Farmers in Nineveh begin harvest of red onions despite low profit margins

NINEVEH — Farmers in the Karmles area of the Nineveh Plains have begun harvesting red onions, a seasonal crop prized locally for its strong flavor and long shelf life.

Labib Esho, a local farmer, said he planted seven donums—roughly two acres—this year, with yields averaging between 500 and 600 kilograms per donum. A 20-kilogram sack currently sells for around 10,000 Iraqi dinars, or $7.

“Red onions are better for cooking, hotter, and stronger in flavor than the white ones full of water,” he told 964media, noting that current prices “barely cover expenses.”

Abbas Saber, head of the farmers’ associations in Hamdaniya district, said more than 40 donums, or about 10 acres, were planted with red onions this season. He confirmed average yields of 500 kilograms per donum, but pointed out that the crop falls outside the government’s official agricultural plan and receives no state support.

Red onions are typically sown in February, irrigated from late April through mid-July, and left to dry in the soil for two months before being harvested in late September.

Despite low returns, farmers in the area continue the practice as part of a tradition passed down through generations.