Akre is renowned for its high-quality sesame, a staple in the region’s agriculture. With growing demand for tahini in Kurdistan’s markets, sesame production in the city has been expanding year after year.
Akre is home to numerous tahini factories, and its sesame is prized for its distinct taste and aroma. A significant portion of the city’s sesame products is exported abroad. Fazil Ibrahim, Director of Agriculture in Akre, reported that sesame cultivation has been increasing steadily. In 2023, 413 dunams of land were dedicated to sesame, yielding 72 tons. By 2024, cultivation nearly doubled to 852 dunams, producing 149 tons.
Most sesame farms are located in the Gardasin and Dinarte sub-districts, where the crop is primarily processed into tahini. Due to its exceptional quality, Akre’s tahini continues to see strong demand among consumers.