Affecting fig, apple, pear, cucumber, tomato crops
Windstorm devastates crops in Pishdar area
PISHDAR – Farmers in the Pishdar area of Sulaymaniyah governorate sustained significant damage to their crops after a powerful windstorm hit the region. The storm, which occurred about a week ago, particularly affected figs, apples, pears, cucumbers, and tomatoes, causing widespread destruction.
“This year, I planted about five donums of land (1.2 acres) with cucumbers and tomatoes, but a severe wind hit our area about a week ago, causing extensive damage estimated at around seven million dinars ($5,341),” said Sabah Mohammed, a farmer from the village of Begalas in Pishdar.
Mohammed noted that such intense winds had not occurred in recent years. The storm shattered many cucumbers, causing them to wither, and damaged tomato plants, breaking branches and rendering some fruitless. The windstorm struck at a critical time when the tomatoes and cucumbers were still young and vulnerable.
Pishdar’s agricultural statistics show the area has about 140,000 donums (34,594 acres) of arable land, with a significant portion dedicated to growing tomatoes and cucumbers.
In late July, strong winds also swept through the Sidakan district of Erbil governorate, damaging local agricultural production, particularly pear and apple orchards, according to local officials and farmers.
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