Duhok agriculture directorate takes measures to protect renowned Barwari Bala apples

DUHOK — Efforts are ongoing in Duhok’s Kani Masi sub-district to safeguard the distinctive Barwari Bala apples, with the Agriculture Directorate focusing on averting potential scarcity and ensuring market availability. The directorate has recently implemented measures to protect these renowned apples from disease, including distributing medication to local orchard owners.

Barwari Bala apples are celebrated for their exceptional flavor and vibrant color. The region cultivates a variety of apples, but the red variety remains the most sought after. The Crop Protection Department has been actively guiding farmers on the best practices to shield their crops from pests and diseases.

A recent statement from the Agriculture Department noted, “To assist in protecting the apple crops, we have provided 670 liters of insecticide free of charge to farmers in the Kani Masi sub-district.”

Ahmad Jamil, Director General of Duhok Agriculture, in a discussion with 964media, highlighted the challenges faced by the apple crops, including diseases that manifest as black and brown spots, detrimentally affecting their size, shape, freshness, and texture.

The Duhok Agriculture Directorate revealed that harsh frost conditions last year significantly reduced apple yields in Barwari Bala, with production dropping from over 8,000 tons in 2022 to just 5,000 tons.

Duhok boasts a diverse agricultural sector, producing a range of fruits such as grapes, pomegranates, and figs, in addition to vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. Notably, the Akre district alone hosts 250,000 fig trees spread over 3,706 acres.

The region also focuses on sesame cultivation, with approximately 824 acres planted annually. Last year, the Amedi district harvested over 120 tons of sesame. Moreover, this year’s rice planting has expanded to cover 4,942 acres, with projections of yielding more than 20,000 tons.

The Nawkur Plain in Duhok is a critical area for potato production, contributing 450,000 tons annually, which constitutes about 70% of the potato output in the Kurdistan Region.

However, the region’s agriculture faces threats from seasonal diseases and Turkish bombardments. A local farmer lamented to 964media about the recent conflicts, “Over 500 productive walnut and grape trees in our village have been destroyed due to the conflict, alongside more than 100 rows of villagers’ grape orchards and gardens.”

Moreover, on July 4, Turkish artillery ignited fires that devastated approximately 125 acres of farmland and orchards in the Sargale area of Duhok, underscoring the ongoing challenges to agricultural stability in the region.