By Shallaw yaseen
If you ever traveled through the Garmian area you have undoubtedly witnessed this: vast and open plains stretching as far as the eye can see, with the Sirwan River which is giving life the landscape. Maybe we sometime heard the phrase “Garmian, is a breadbasket of Kurdistan.” But is it just a saying, a nostalgic reference to an olden days? Or is it a future we can really build? Let’s be honest. When you look at the abundant resources, the idea isn’t far-fetched at all. We have the land—thousands upon thousands of hectares of fertile soil. And crucially, we have the water. Unlike other parts of Iraq that struggle with drought, Garmian is blessed with the Sirwan River. The potential is amazing. We’re sitting on a goldmine of agricultural opportunity, yet for some reason, we have not quite figured out how to unlock it. So, what’s standing in our way?
The main problem is not a shortage of resources, but rather lack of applying modern methods. If you walk through the fields today in Garmyan, and you’ll see farming practices that have not changed much in fifty years. We still rely heavily on old irrigation, a technique that wastes enormous amounts of our precious river water and, ironically, can damage and ruin the soil over time through waterlogging and salt buildup. We plant the same traditional crops, like wheat and barley, year after year, often with seeds that haven’t been improved or even changed in the last decades. What is the result? Yields that are far below what they could be. Other regions of the world farming on the same area as us are getting more crops than we are. But things can change. The solutions are actually quite simple and well-known.
Imagine if we started managing our water rationally and smartly. For instance, think drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to the plant’s roots, cutting water use by more than half while actually increasing the output. Think about diversifying our crops. Garmian’s climate is perfect for more than just grains. We could be a major producer of high-value crops like sunflowers for oil, corn for silage to support a booming livestock industry, or even fruits like pomegranates, olive and figs that thrive in the heat.
Also we can ask a question like: what about technology? Greenhouses are not just for cold countries. In a place like Garmian, they are a game-changer or could change the situation. They allow farmers to control the growing environment, protect crops from the scorching summer heat, and produce vegetables year-round. This isn’t just about growing more; it’s about growing smarter and creating a stable, year-round income for our farming communities.
Of course, this kind of change does not happen overnight and day. It requires a real shift in thinking and way of planting. It needs investment, not just from the government, but from the private sector. It needs our agricultural graduates to see farming not as a last resort, but as an advanced development business opportunity. They are the ones who can bring the science from the classroom to the field. We need collaboration— of farmers, engineers, investors, and policymakers all working together.
So, can Garmian region become Kurdistan’s breadbasket? To some extent I can say yes. We have a vast and fertile land. We have a rich water source, the Sirwan River. The potential is undeniable. But potential alone does not put food on the table. It takes vision, hard work, and a willingness to break and transcend the past. The question is not whether Garmian can feed Kurdistan, but whether we have the collective will to make it happen.