Agriculture is one of the sources of food security. Through agrotourism it can significantly contribute to self-sufficiency in some products such as vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, meat, or by increasing the production of meat, dairy, and other goods. This in turn provides food for residents, reduces unemployment rates, and creates job opportunities for university and institute graduates in their areas of expertise, in addition to employing other unemployed individuals, whether graduates of basic education or those without formal schooling.
Moreover, agricultural activities form a key basis for tourism, since the number of tourists is increasing day by day. Many tourists are eager to see, enjoy, purchase, and taste various agricultural products. At the same time, the presence of livestock, poultry, dairy, fruits, and vegetables gives visitors an even richer experience. Agrotourism is essentially the linking of the agriculture and tourism sectors, requiring the establishment of agricultural projects in areas with fertile fields and gardens. This can attract tourists and visitors to farms, orchards, and livestock facilities, and has the potential to draw large numbers of visitors both domestically and internationally. Such initiatives strengthen economic, social, cultural, and intellectual ties, fostering interaction between urban and rural residents, and ultimately promoting both economic and social development.
One annual activity that promotes local production and farmers’ work in Halabja is the Halabja Agricultural Weekly Market, located near Zamaqy checkpoint. This year marked the second weekly agricultural market organized by the Halabja Directorate of Agriculture in coordination with the Islamic Relief Worldwide – Iraq. The goal is to support local products in terms of taste, quality, freshness, and cleanliness, with many exemplary farmers participating. The market also includes several other activities such as Kurdish music and songs, and the participation of a number of women artisans showcasing items such as traditional foods (kelane, nawsaji, kuba, dolma), as well as household accessories like embroidered cushions, trays, and ornaments, alongside displays of Kurdish traditional clothing such as embroidered dresses.
The purpose of the festival is to market local products, support regional farmers, provide access to fresh and clean produce at fair prices, strengthen the local economy, and promote Halabja’s agrotourism. By directly connecting producers to consumers, the festival supports both economic revitalization and local development. It also creates overlap between the agriculture and tourism sectors, enhances the commercial activities of farmers, and generates employment opportunities for residents in agriculture and tourism.
However, Halabja’s local products face several recurring challenges each year. These include low prices, which discourage farmers; the lack of advanced and suitable storage and transport infrastructure, especially within the province; and the risk of spoilage due to disease outbreaks, climate change, and drought. Therefore, solutions must include proper investment in transportation and storage infrastructure, at least seasonally, to ensure products reach consumers at high quality. Giving importance to agrotourism, local production, and preservation is a national duty.
Beyond establishing a market for Halabja’s agricultural products, farmers can also benefit from several other methods: local markets, central markets, agricultural cooperatives, participation in exhibitions and market festivals, networking with wholesalers and exporters, and using online platforms.
Gharib Ali Salim