Akre’s Fig Harvest Peaks as Region Celebrates Iconic Local Crop
Akre's famed fig harvest peaks with daily shipments to Duhok. Known for superior taste, the region boasts 250,000 trees yielding 8K+ tons annually. Experts hail figs as 'miracle fruit' with digestion, bone & heart benefits.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The lush fig orchards of Akre have reached peak harvest, as local farmers begin daily shipments of the prized fruit across the district and to neighboring Duhok, according to agricultural officials.
Fazil Mustafa, head of the Akre Agriculture Directorate, told Kurdistan24 on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, that the region’s famed figs began ripening earlier this month. “We now send several tons every day from Akre and its surrounding areas to markets in Duhok,” he said.
Although precise figures are not yet available for this year’s harvest, Mustafa noted that Akre produced more than 8,000 tons of figs last year. He emphasized the town’s reputation for having the finest quality figs in the region, attributing this to the favorable climate, fertile soil, and water availability in the area.
"The taste and richness of Akre’s figs set them apart from those grown elsewhere," Mustafa said, adding that certain varieties continue to ripen well into the autumn season. The region now boasts more than 250,000 fig trees, many of them concentrated in well-known areas such as Dinarta, Bajil, and other surrounding villages.
Speaking to Kurdistan24, food expert Dr. Badr Surchi described the fig as a “miracle fruit,” not only for its sweet flavor but also for its long history as a source of nutrition and healing. “For centuries, figs have been valued not just as food, but as a symbol of life, wisdom, and prosperity across numerous cultures and religions,” he said.
Dr. Surchi pointed to the fruit’s health benefits, noting that figs aid digestion, support skin health, combat fatigue and anemia, regulate appetite, and help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels. “They’re also known to enhance bone health and increase hair growth,” he added.
Akre’s fig harvest remains a key agricultural season, offering both economic value to farmers and a reminder of the region’s natural richness and enduring cultural identity.
