Traditional tobacco farming fades in Kurdistan as modern alternatives rise

QANDIL — In the Kurdistan Region, tobacco farming, once a prevalent occupation among Kurdish farmers, is now maintained by only a handful of dedicated individuals. As the tobacco harvest season approaches, residents of Bardashal village in the Qandil Mountains are busy drying tobacco leaves using traditional methods.

Tobacco planting in the region begins in June, with harvesting starting in late August and continuing through autumn. Despite facing numerous challenges, farmers in Bardashal village, nestled in the rugged Qandil range, persist with these practices, preserving both their heritage and livelihood.

The decline in tobacco farming is partly due to the increasing availability and popularity of ready-made cigarettes, which has reduced the demand for locally grown tobacco. Several varieties of tobacco are still cultivated in Kurdistan, with the most prominent being the Khal-Khal, Grzha, and Qucha types. Prices for these varieties vary, with grade one tobacco fetching 100,000 Iraqi dinars ($67) per kilogram, grade two at 75,000 dinars ($50), and grade three at 50,000 dinars ($33) in local markets.

Similarly, the villages of Koyle, Wasan, and Serkan in the Balakayati region of Choman, part of the Soran Autonomous Administration, have recently begun their tobacco harvest. These areas are known for producing high-quality tobacco, which continues to be in demand.

In late May, Iraq’s Ministry of Health reported alarming statistics on smoking, revealing that a smoker dies every 10 minutes in the country. Wasim Kilan, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Control Program, stated that “20% of Iraqis aged 18 and older smoke various forms of tobacco, while 40-50% are affected by secondhand exposure.” Kilan also noted that the vast majority of smokers are men.