Exporting potatoes from Kurdistan Region to South Africa
According to his statement, 100 tons of potatoes said to be exported to South Africa, over several phases, in the first stage, on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, 25 tons of potatoes would have been exported through the Ibrahim Khalil’s International Border Crossing Gate.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The General Director of Agriculture in Erbil, Hemin Sayed Murad stated to Kurdistan 24 on Thursday “a local investing company has signed an agreement with a Liberian company to export Kurdistan Regional farmers’ potatoes to South Africa”
According to his statement, 100 tons of potatoes said to be exported to South Africa, over several phases, in the first stage, on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, 25 tons of potatoes would have been exported through the Ibrahim Khalil’s International Border Crossing Gate.
The ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Region Government announced that its focus would be to the various economic sectors in the Kurdistan Region.
Its intending to build a strong economic infrastructure for the Kurdistan Region, agriculture sector has been one of the revival grounds through various projects.
It’s occupied a large and an important part of the work field by the ninth cabinet. Kurdistan Regional Government considered the necessities of developing agriculture in a way to depend also increase the domestic production as well as exporting abroad.
“Exporting potatoes to South Africa is a part of the efforts by the 9th cabinet at the Kurdistan Region Government to marketing farmers' products at home and abroad,” Murad said.
Iraqi Government blocks Kurdistan's potato export to Jordan
The Owner of K.H. Potato Investment and Export Company, Bashar Moshir disclosed to Kurdistan 24 on Thursday, October 10th, 2024 “over the past few weeks, Jordan formally requested from us to export 5000 tons of potatoes”
However, Moshir explained the challenge they faced is due to the Iraqi Federal Government’s prohibiting the exports but for various excuses.
“In addition to potatoes, Jordanian officials made a request for the rice from Kurdistan, too. Especially Akre rice” Moshir added “but the Iraqi Government precluded the deal to go ahead, despite of the fact, we keep making efforts to export the largest amount of Kurdistan’s potatoes to the countries in the region”
Read More: Kurdistan Region gears up for potato, rice exports to Jordan
Export of potatoes to West Kurdistan and the UAE
This year, in the early July, the Aura Company from Kurdistan Region began to export more than 25000 tons of potatoes to the UAE under an agreement between both parties.
Furthermore, last year 2023 more than 13000 tons of potatoes were exported to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Read More: KRG to export 5,000 tons of potatoes to UAE amid growing agricultural success
Exporting to Qamishlo and Hasakah in Western Kurdistan
This year 2024 in August, a volume of 600 tons potatoes from the Nawkur plain in Duhok province was exported to Hasakah and Qamishlo by 25 trucks through the Pishkhabur gate.
Read More: 600 tons of potatoes exported from Kurdistan Region to Qamishlo, Hasakah
Growing Potatoes in Kurdistan Region
According to the agricultural sources' statements by officials, in total, around 86453 dunums of land field is used to grow potatoes in.
More than 800000 tons potatoes produce, and annually in the Kurdistan Region the production has increased by %900 over the past five years.
The largest amount of potatoes production is in the Nawkuri plain of Bardarash District in Duhok province, estimated as more than 300000 tons, annually.
Aura sated that around 30 types of fresh potatoes can be grown in Kurdistan Region, the quality of fresh potatoes from Kurdistan Region is said to be the best in the Middle East, which has made the Gulf countries’ demand grows bigger.