Farmers in Salah Al-Din begin courgette harvest amid rising costs

SALAH AL-DIN — Farmers in the agricultural subdistrict of Al-Nahrain, south of Salah Al-Din governorate, have begun harvesting their seasonal courgette crop — locally known as shajar or Haji Ahmad — a staple of Iraqi cuisine but increasingly difficult to profit from.

“We plant courgette at the beginning of December, and the harvest starts in early March,” said Wissam Hassan, a farmer in the area. “We cover the crop with plastic to protect it from cold spells, and once the weather improves, we remove the cover and begin picking.”

Courgettes are first sold at the market in Al-Nahrain before being transported to markets in Dhuluiya, Balad, Dujail, and farther north to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.

Hassan said he favors Khatoun seeds for their sweeter taste and better color. “We rely on Russian chemical fertilizer, even though it’s expensive — a 100-kilogram sack costs about 120,000 dinars (roughly $81),” he said.

Despite the investment, profit margins are thin. “The price per kilo ranges from 250 to 300 dinars (about $0.17 to $0.20). That doesn’t match the work or costs,” Hassan said.

Farmer Azaldeen Ammar noted the region’s reputation for quality. “We export to the northern governorates through Alwa — to Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and southward to Balad, Dujail, and Baghdad. People prefer the soft variety for dishes like dolma.”

Qusay Mohammed, head of the Al-Nahrain Agriculture Division, said courgette cultivation has dropped to 400 dunams this year, down from 650 dunams last season.

“There’s no increase in output due to water shortages, reduced government support, poor weather, and the spread of imported courgette in local markets,” he said.

He added that farming extends across a wide area, including the outskirts of Dhuluiya, the airport road, and plots 29, 34, and 39, as well as Sheikh Mohammed, Aheyala, Jizr, Aberiya, and Um Shaifa.