Poor maintenance blamed for outbreak
Disease hits famed Akre fig orchards
AKRE – A disease has compromised a portion of Akre’s celebrated fig orchards, according to the Akre Agriculture Directorate in Duhok governorate. Officials attribute the outbreak primarily to the farmers’ irregular maintenance of trees and delays in reporting the issue.
Akre figs, distinguished by their yellowish color and sweetness, are a hallmark of the Duhok governorate, with over 3,000 tons harvested annually. The disease has notably affected most fig trees in the Dinarta sub-district, causing premature fruit spoilage and prompting farmers to seek aid from authorities.
Karwan Jamal, spokesperson for the Akre Agriculture Directorate, informed 964media that lance flies, insects that discolor and damage the fruit, have infected the trees for a second consecutive year. Contributing factors include the excessive application of chemicals, inadequate irrigation, and high temperatures, though the full scope of the damage is still under investigation.
Jamal emphasized the urgency of early disease detection and intervention to prevent widespread crop loss. He noted that currently, there are no effective means to prevent the disease, underscoring the challenges facing the region’s agriculture sector.
“Each year, fig harvesting begins in the second week of July and continues until September. Farmers sell their figs over this three-month period, supplying markets within the Kurdistan Region governorates and southern Iraq,” said Jamal.
According to statistics from the Akre Agriculture Directorate, there are 250,000 fig trees in the Akre district, spread over an area of 3,706 acres.
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