Farmers in Soran say local crop prices falling below cost, cite oversupply and low demand

SORAN — Farmers in the Soran Autonomous Administration in Erbil say they are incurring major losses this season as market prices for local produce fall below the cost of production, despite an abundance of fruits and vegetables across the region.

Vendors are selling staple crops at steeply reduced prices, with a 10-kilogram box of tomatoes priced at just 2,500 dinars (about $1.70), 20 kilograms of onions at 6,000 dinars ($4), and 20 kilograms of potatoes at 5,000 dinars ($3.50). Farmers say these prices are unsustainable and warn that continued losses could force them out of the market.

“This pricing is hurting local farmers,” said Aras Faisal, an employee at the Soran produce market. He attributed the downturn to oversupply, the delayed payment of public sector salaries across the Kurdistan Region — with May salaries still unpaid — and a lack of government measures to limit imports.

The Soran Autonomous Administration includes six districts, 13 subdistricts, and roughly 800 villages, many of which depend heavily on agriculture.

The situation mirrors trends elsewhere in Iraq, where farmers have reported deep losses. In Salah al-Din’s Dujail district, tomato prices have collapsed to around 1,000 dinars per box. Growers and traders have blamed overproduction, poor planning, and competition from other regions, with some also accusing the government of failing to enforce seasonal import bans.

Farmers in Soran say the current conditions may worsen unless authorities step in to regulate imports and support local producers through subsidies or guaranteed procurement.