KRG to export 5,000 tons of potatoes to UAE amid growing agricultural success

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – For the second consecutive year, approximately 5,000 tons of locally grown potatoes from the Kurdistan Region will be exported to the UAE. This export is part of an agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and a UAE company.

On Sunday, Haji Sabir Khoshnaw, owner of Aura Company, told Kurdistan24 that four containers of potatoes would be sent to the UAE today. "The export process will continue over the next 15 to 20 days until all 5,000 tons are shipped," he explained.

Last year, over 13,000 tons of potatoes were exported to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for the first time. Haji Sabir Khoshnaw expressed plans to increase exports to more than 25,000 tons to Gulf countries this year. The Kurdistan Region produces around 30 varieties of potatoes, which are highly demanded in the Gulf due to their superior quality.

Read More: Gulf KFC and Hardee's restaurants seek Kurdistan Region potatoes

Khoshnaw thanked Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the Erbil General Directorate of Agriculture, and other relevant parties for their efforts in marketing farmers' products and their continuous support to the agricultural sector. "The opportunities to market farmers' produce are expanding day by day," he added.

Hemn Sayed Murad, Director General of Agriculture in Erbil, highlighted the ninth cabinet's dedication to the agricultural sector, noting that, “Within the framework of the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government's attention to the agricultural sector, the opportunities to market farmers' products are expanding day by day.”

As agreed by both the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, the Kurdistan Region’s farmers who export their products to the central and southern parts of Iraq must be supported by the agricultural directorates of their provinces.

According to the director of Erbil’s agriculture, daily support is provided to about 400 farmers. This support includes the export of around 10 tons of various agricultural products to central and southern Iraqi cities and regional countries.

In a ceremony on Thursday, July 18, 2024, about 10,000 cartons of potato chips produced in a factory in the Qoshtapa district were exported to Saudi Arabia and Jordan for the first time. The factory employs over 400 workers, 75% of whom are local, providing significant direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Read More: Kurdistan Region begins exporting locally produced potato chips to Saudi Arabia, Jordan

The Kurdistan Region produces over 800,000 tons of potatoes annually, covering an area of 86,453 dunams, marking a 900% increase over the past five years. The majority of these potatoes are grown in the Nawkuri plain of Bardarash district in Duhok province, which alone produces more than 300,000 tons annually.

Read More: Bardarash potato production reaches 300,000 tons this year

The ninth cabinet, under Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, has made significant strides in developing the agricultural sector and enhancing domestic production. Measures include increased investment, strategic projects, and daily visits by the Prime Minister to lay the foundation stones for new agricultural initiatives.

Investment in the agricultural sector has risen from 1.8% to over 9% of the total investment in the Kurdistan Region during the ninth cabinet. More than 2,175 agricultural projects have been implemented, and approximately 25,000 wells have been dug.

Additionally, the construction of 12 new silos and 27 tankers with a storage capacity of about 900,000 tons of wheat has addressed farmers' concerns regarding wheat marketing and storage.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani's commitment to developing the agricultural sector and water resources continues to provide vital support to farmers across the region.