Significant increase in yellow corn production in Kurdistan region

ERBIL, August 16 — The Kurdistan region’s Ministry of Agriculture has reported a rise in yellow corn production, noting that 80-percent of the crop is cultivated in Erbil.

In recent years, the Kurdistan region has entered the field of corn cultivation, with crops covering thousands of hectares in Erbil alone over the past two years.

Chenar Mohammed, Director of Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture, told 964:

Over 23,000 hectares were planted with corn in 2022, but this year the cultivated area has expanded to more than 39,000 hectares, mainly in Erbil.

The region’s land is highly suitable for corn cultivation, provided there is consistent irrigation due to the crop’s substantial water requirements. Farmers in the region send this produce to central and southern Iraq.

The cost of cultivating one hectare of corn amounts to 500,000 Iraqi dinars, including plowing, seeding, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation.

Wheat production reached over 80,000 tons in 2022, with the harvest for 2023 not yet complete. However, it is expected to be considerably higher than the previous year, with these statistics pertaining only to Erbil.