As the Kurdistan Region continues to advance its energy, roads, industry, and tourism sectors, efforts to strengthen agriculture and livestock are gaining momentum. The regional government aims to ensure food security, achieve self-sufficiency, and transform the region into a food basket for Iraq, while expanding the export of agricultural products.
Recently, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani inaugurated the “Megel” project in Erbil, a private sector initiative covering agriculture, livestock, and the food industry. Built on an area of approximately 366 dunams at a cost of $100 million, the project features a slaughterhouse, trading center, animal control and wastewater filtration facility, waste incineration unit, and a greenery section.
During the inauguration, PM Barzani highlighted the government’s ongoing support for the private sector and noted that the project has created over 1,000 job opportunities for local residents. He praised the project for combining local labor with advanced technology and machinery imported from abroad, prepared to international standards.
“It is gratifying that this project was built by the hands of our own people,” Barzani said. “It will help provide citizens with reliable food supplies, covering meat production, livestock farming, and animal trading. All products will meet Ministry of Health standards, ensuring safety and quality for consumers.”
Barzani also emphasized the project’s broader economic impact, explaining that it will support related sectors such as feed production and animal by-product utilization, creating additional business opportunities and jobs.
The Megel project represents a significant step in the Kurdistan Region’s strategy to modernize agriculture, strengthen the food supply chain, and boost both local production and regional exports.
