The wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Sulaimani is experiencing increased volumes of local produce, supported by measures from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to support farmers and orchard owners.
Sarwar Ali, head of the Sulaimani Wholesale Market (Alwa) Syndicate, said, "Right now, we have an abundance of our own local produce. This is not happening because our own produce has not reached a price level where it would be expensive, thus providing a profit motive for the alwa. In fact, no produce has been imported from the borders into the Sulaimani market." He noted that tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, and watermelons are currently in good supply, mainly sourced from Penjwen and Sharazur.
According to Jutyar Khalid, Deputy Director of the Sulaimani Directorate of Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources implements Law No. 4 of 2008 to support agricultural products and issues an annual agricultural calendar. "According to this calendar, when local produce becomes available, imported produce is banned or tariffs are imposed on it," he said.
Government strategy under the Ninth Cabinet has included financial allocations for agriculture, increasing from 1.5% of the budget to nearly 10%. This has funded infrastructure projects, including wholesale markets and grain storage silos. A facility worth US$22 million is under construction in Akre, while a 40,000-ton silo was inaugurated in Erbil's Qushtapa district in June 2024, alongside a new project in Halabja.
Exports have also expanded under the Kurdistan Agriculture Export Initiative, launched in 2022. Initial exports included pomegranates from Halabja to Gulf and European markets, followed by apples, grapes, honey, potatoes, tahini, and sumac. These products are now reaching destinations such as the UAE, Qatar, the UK, and Germany.
Domestic support programs have included the distribution of 84,000 support packages to farmers, resulting in 750,000 tons of local produce reaching Iraqi provinces in 2024. Direct-to-consumer initiatives, such as the Halabja farmers' market, provide outlets for over 100 growers. Agritourism projects, including Kurdistan Farm in Halabja, cultivate multiple crops and operate weekly markets.
The KRG has also worked on policy areas such as land ownership for women farmers and water management. Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Begard Talabani confirmed investments in new dams and ponds, as well as UNICEF-backed programs to help farmers build cooperative ponds to store rainwater for irrigation and electricity generation.
The government states these measures are designed to strengthen local supply chains, improve market access, and reduce post-harvest losses, with Sulaimani's wholesale market seen as an example of the approach in practice.
Source: Kurdistan24