Farmers celebrate healthy Zaytouni grape harvest in Salah al-Din

SALAH AL-DIN — Farmers in the orchards of Al-Adhiyya, south of Salah al-Din governorate, are reporting a strong harvest of Zaytouni grapes this season, with high yields and minimal disease affecting the crop.

“This year’s grape harvest in Ishaqi is abundant and free from the diseases that affected it in previous years, including downy mildew and fungal infections,” said orchard owner Hamid Yahya. “Young workers from Dujail and even the south are helping with the harvest. We call on the government to support farmers. We’re exporting grapes to southern and even northern cities.”

The Zaytouni grape, prized for its large size, dark color, and flavor, is especially popular in southern cities like Najaf, Karbala, and Diwaniya, where it commands a wholesale price of about 750 dinars, or $0.54 per kilogram.

“This is the Zaytouni grape harvest season, and it will be shipped to southern governorates including Najaf and Karbala,” said farmer Sajad Razaq. “The season is abundant and disease-free, but we need access to affordable fertilizers and chemicals, which are still expensive. Today we produced 120 baskets.”

Ahmed Khudair, one of six young workers harvesting grapes in Ishaqi orchards, said the crop was well received in southern markets. “The grapes are large and flavorful and popular in southern cities like Najaf, Diwaniya, and Hilla. The wholesale price reached 750 dinars per kilogram. We face some challenges during work and transport, but we’re used to it. We’re happy with a healthy season and promise the governorates top-quality grapes.”

Talib Hassan, head of the Ishaqi agriculture division, said grape yields this year are expected to reach 25,000 tons. “The cultivated area exceeds 5,000 dunams (about 1,235 acres), with each dunam producing about 5 tons. Some varieties, like the Ra’asi, produce even more,” he said.

Salah al-Din ranks first among Iraq’s governorates in grape production, contributing more than 60% of the country’s estimated 400,000-ton annual yield, particularly from southern areas such as Ishaqi, Balad, and Dhuluiya.