With exports to other parts of Iraq
Harvest potato season begins in Sharazur Plain
SHARAZUR — The annual potato harvest has begun in the Sharazur Plain of Halabja, with portions designated for chip production and distribution to central and southern Iraq, according to Sitar Mahmoud, Director of Agriculture in Halabja.
During the season, potato imports into the Kurdistan Region are halted to prioritize local supply, with efforts underway to expand to foreign markets.
“So far, there have been no exports [of Sharazur potatos] to foreign markets, but efforts are being made to achieve this in the future,” Mahmoud told 964media.
The plains of Bardarash in Duhok and Sharazur in Halabja are major potato-producing areas in the Kurdistan Region. While exact figures for this year’s potato production in Halabja are not available, Dohuk’s Directorate of Agriculture previously reported that 450,000 tons of potatoes are produced annually in the province’s Nawkur Plain, accounting for 70 percent of the total potato production in the Kurdistan Region.
According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Kurdistan Region requires 350,000 tons of potatoes annually, while local production exceeds 700,000 tons.