Growing self-sufficiency and expanding exports highlight success of KRG’s agricultural strategy
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s efforts to strengthen local production are delivering tangible results, with the Kurdistan Region achieving self-sufficiency in several agricultural products while expanding exports to regional and international markets.
According to the Directorate General of Agriculture in Erbil, potato production has reached record levels, with nearly 300 truckloads of locally grown potatoes transported daily to markets across central and southern Iraq.
Director General of Erbil Agriculture Hemin Sayid Murad said the KRG has adopted a new marketing strategy that balances domestic demand with export opportunities.
“A portion of local production supplies the domestic market, while the remainder is exported to international markets or distributed to central and southern Iraq,” he said.
Murad noted that Kurdistan’s potatoes have gained a strong reputation for their quality and are now exported to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. He added that locally produced honey is also being exported to Gulf countries and Europe, while tomato paste manufactured in Kurdistan is reaching European markets.
The poultry sector has also recorded significant growth, enabling the Kurdistan Region to exceed self-sufficiency and export hundreds of tonnes of poultry products annually to other parts of Iraq.
Mohammed Rashid, Director of Agriculture in Mergasor, said the district has become one of the Region’s leading poultry production centres. He added that many villagers have expanded production of eggs, milk, yogurt, and cheese, particularly following the opening of the Zom Dairy Factory, which has increased demand for locally produced dairy products.
Rashid said Mergasor is home to 90 active poultry projects producing more than 6,000 tonnes of white meat each year. The output meets around 30% of the demand in Erbil Governorate and the Soran Independent Administration, with the remainder supplied to other Iraqi provinces.
The continued expansion of agricultural production and exports reflects the KRG’s broader strategy to strengthen food security, support local farmers, reduce dependence on imports, and diversify the Region’s economy.