Duhok’s potato production soars, exceeding local demand

DUHOK — Potato production in Duhok Governorate has surged by 902% over the past five years, increasing from 84,321 tons in 2019 to 845,040 tons in 2024, according to the latest report from the Media and Information Office of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Production figures have shown a steady annual increase from 84,321 tons in 2019, rising to 124,783 tons in 2020, 137,156 tons in 2021, 261,261 tons in 2022, 583,317 tons in 2023, and finally reaching 845,040 tons this year.

Muslih Hassan, deputy director of agriculture in Duhok, provided insight into the factors behind this impressive increase. “The availability of cold storage facilities for potatoes, the ability to harvest the crop in two seasons, lower production costs, and favorable weather conditions have all contributed to this growth,” Hassan told 964media.

Hassan also noted that Duhok’s potato production now exceeds local demand, which has enabled the region to support the production of chips and other processed potato products. The surplus is exported to key international markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.

In the Kurdistan Region, 30 varieties of potatoes are cultivated, and the region’s annual requirement is less than 130 tons. The surplus meets demands in Gulf countries and is distributed to central and southern Iraq, as well as to local factories for chip production.

On June 5, the KRG announced that for the second consecutive year, about 5,000 tons of locally grown potatoes would be exported to the UAE. Last year, more than 13,000 tons were shipped to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for the first time. Projections for this year suggest that more than 25,000 tons will be exported to Gulf countries.

The KRG also reported that 600 tons of potatoes had recently been sent to the cities of Qamishlo and Hasakah in Western Kurdistan on Aug. 19.