Halabja Agricultural Market Connects Farmers With Consumers and Tourists

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Halabja Agricultural Market has entered its second year, giving farmers a direct place to sell their produce to consumers while offering visitors a closer look at the agricultural products of Halabja and the wider Sharazur area.

The market has been operating for nine days and was established to promote and sell locally produced agricultural goods. Its organizers say the initiative provides farmers with an additional sales outlet while allowing visitors to buy produce directly from those who grow it.

A direct market for local farmers

Star Mahmoud, Director General of Agriculture in Halabja, said 100 stalls and spaces have been prepared for farmers this year and are being provided free of charge.

Mahmoud said the initiative could continue to expand and provide greater support for local producers, giving them an opportunity to reach consumers without relying solely on conventional markets.

For participating farmers, the market also offers a way to bring agricultural products from different parts of the area to a common location.

Kaywan Fariq, one of the farmers taking part, said products including sunflower seeds and orchard fruits are transported from different parts of Halabja and the Sharazur region shortly before the market opens.

The practice helps preserve the freshness of the produce while establishing a direct link between agricultural production and consumers.

Fresh produce from Halabja and Sharazur

The variety and freshness of the products have also made the market appealing to visitors.

Firdaws Salah, a visitor from Erbil, praised the taste and aroma of the produce, highlighting the quality of goods available at the market.

For visitors, the event offers more than an opportunity to purchase agricultural products. It provides a direct encounter with food produced in the surrounding area and a glimpse into the work of farmers whose harvests reach consumers through the market.

From farm market to tourist attraction

The market's second year also points to a possible tourism role, as visitors from outside Halabja can combine a trip to the city with an experience centered on its agricultural production.

Such events can give visitors a closer connection to local food and rural life while creating an additional attraction alongside Halabja's broader appeal.

The frequency of agricultural markets has increased during the tenure of the KRG's Ninth Cabinet, according to the supplied report, as efforts to support and revitalize agriculture have gained greater visibility.

For Halabja, the market brings these two functions together: it gives farmers a free platform to sell their harvest directly while offering visitors an opportunity to experience the area's agricultural production at its source.