Duhok’s beet harvest surges despite challenges from diseases and Turkish airstrikes

DUHOK — Beet production in Duhok’s Bergare region, part of Amedi district, has seen significant growth this year, with local farmers reporting higher yields than the previous season. Known for its large, vibrant red beets, the Bergare area has managed to increase output despite ongoing obstacles, including Turkish airstrikes and seasonal diseases.

Isa Bergareyi, the mukhtar of Pirozana village, shared with 964media, “Last year, our beet harvest was low due to diseases impacting our crops. However, even with the challenges posed by Turkish airstrikes and field fires, production has improved. We are currently in the harvest season, which will continue until the end of the year.”

Turkish military operations targeting the PKK have caused substantial damage to agricultural lands in Duhok. On July 4, airstrikes ignited fires that destroyed about 125 acres of farmland and orchards in Sargale, exacerbating the challenges for local farmers. The PKK, an armed Kurdish group, has been in conflict with the Turkish state since the early 1980s over Kurdish rights.

Bergareyi reported that his yield increased from seven tons last year to an expected 12 tons this season. The harvested beets are distributed across the Kurdistan region and Iraq, with each farmer typically selling over 10 tons annually.

Currently, beets are priced at 1,000 IQD ($0.65) per kilogram, and Bergareyi anticipates this may rise to 2,500 IQD ($1.64) per kilogram by the end of the year.