Kurdish Farmers Urge Baghdad to Support Local Produce Over Imports

Kurdistani Nwe

Salman Sadiq, Kurdish Farmers' Representative.

During a visit to Baghdad, a group of Kurdish farmers called on the Iraqi federal government to allow them to market their agricultural products in central and southern Iraq, stressing the importance of supporting local production over imports.

At a press conference monitored by PUKMEDIA, Salman Sadiq, a representative of the farmers, stated: “The purpose of our visit is to emphasise that the products of Kurdistan’s farmers are abundant and that there is no need to rely on imports from abroad.”

He underscored the necessity of enabling farmers to market their crops to meet the needs of markets across the central and southern Iraqi governorates.

Sadiq accused the federal government of treating farmers unfairly, noting its failure to implement an agreement reached last year to restrict agricultural imports. He added that many foreign goods continue to enter the country through smuggling, resulting in a sharp decline in the prices of local produce.

Pointing to the sector’s potential, Sadiq highlighted that the production of potatoes and onions in Duhok and Zakho this season is so abundant it could even be exported to countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

He stressed that this abundance demonstrates the strong capacity of the Kurdistan Region’s agricultural sector not only to satisfy domestic demand but also to compete in regional markets.



PUKMEDIA