From class to coop: Taq Taq man builds thriving duck farm after leaving school

ERBIL — A young man from Taq Taq, a sub-district of Erbil’s Koya, has built a small independent duck farm that now raises hundreds of birds and has become a popular local business during the cold season.

Safwan Jalal, who lives with his mother and brother, told 964media he started the project after leaving school. “After a while, I decided to start raising ducks, and now I’ve bought about 500 of them,” he said.

While he also keeps other birds, Safwan said ducks make up most of his flock because he built a private space designed specifically for them. “This winter, there’s a lot of demand for ducks,” he said. “Out of the total number I had, about 300 are left now.”

He said the ducks range in size between two and seven kilograms. “I don’t use any protein supplements in their feed,” he said. “The food I give them is completely natural so that the meat has a natural taste.”

Safwan constructed his own enclosure, including a small pond where the ducks swim and feed. Most of his customers come directly to his home to make purchases. “This winter season, many people are turning to duck meat, and the demand is increasing,” he said, adding that his goal is to expand and raise production.

Local residents have taken notice of his work. The community page Hawina Hawari Taq Taq recently posted a video of Safwan’s handmade setup, praising his dedication and the cleanliness of his operation. Customers who visited his home described his farm as well-maintained and said they trusted the quality of his ducks.

Safwan said he hopes to keep developing his project and eventually begin supplying restaurants and markets in Koya and nearby areas, describing the farm as both his livelihood and his passion.