Visitors attend the first Olive Festival in Harmota village in Koya district, where local farmers and craftspeople showcased their products at 35 booths during the event. (Photo by 964media)
First olive festival held in Koya’s Harmota village as minister pledges new processing plant
KOYA — Kurdistan’s first olive festival is underway in Harmota village in Erbil’s Koya district, where Minister of Agriculture Begard Talabani has pledged to establish an olive processing plant to support local farmers.
Azad Faransi, a farmer from Harmota, told 964media he was proud to see the festival held in his community. “We’re happy that this festival is being held in our village because Harmota deserves it — our products are unique,” he said. “The minister of agriculture promised to build a facility for drying olives and producing olive oil in our village, which will help us increase our production.”
Talabani told 964media the ministry will continue to back olive growers across the region. “We have promised farmers that we will provide training, fertilizers, and assistance, as well as additional land and equipment for them,” she said.
Harmota, a Christian village in Koya district, has more than 30,000 olive trees planted across about 85 donums of land. The event, titled “Olive Festival and Life Together,” highlighted local agricultural and cultural diversity, with Christian residents serving as vendors and Muslim visitors as buyers.
Organizers said 35 booths were set up for farmers and craftspeople to display agricultural products, handmade goods, and local foods, reflecting growing interest in olive cultivation and agro-tourism in the region.