Duhok set to host 18th annual grape and honey festival

DUHOK — The Duhok Agriculture Directorate said it has finalized preparations for the governorate’s 18th annual grape and honey festival, scheduled for Sept. 15–16 under the slogan “Duhok, the source of domestic production.”

The event is meant to showcase local agricultural goods and boost market opportunities for farmers. More than 50 types of grapes will be displayed, along with natural honey produced in villages and mountainous areas across the governorate.

Duhok is known for its grape production, with farmers cultivating vineyards across 20,118 dunams (4,971 acres) and producing 125 varieties, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Media and Information. Popular types include black, yellow, Taifi, Kemali, Halwani, Zarki, Hijazi, Keshmishi, Zaytouni, and Krink.

Official statistics show fluctuations in recent years. In 2022, farmers harvested 77,000 tons of grapes and nearly 150 tons of honey. Grape production fell to 60,000 tons in 2023 while honey rose to 250 tons. Last year, grape yields rebounded to nearly 80,000 tons, though honey output dropped.

The governorate’s agriculture is diverse, with farms also producing pomegranates, figs, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sesame. Akre district hosts about 250,000 fig trees across 3,706 acres, while Amedi district harvested over 120 tons of sesame in 2023. Duhok’s Nawkur Plain contributes around 450,000 tons of potatoes annually, about 70% of the Kurdistan Region’s total.