Aiming for agricultural self-reliance
Erbil research center introduces eight new wheat and barley varieties
ERBIL, January 14 — The Erbil Research Center announced the successful cultivation of eight new varieties of wheat and barley in the Erbil governorate. This breakthrough comes as part of the center’s ongoing efforts to reduce dependency on imported grains and bolster local agricultural production.
The newly introduced wheat types, named Erbil 2, Erbil 3, Erbil 4, Erbil 8, Koya 4, and Koya 18, alongside two barley varieties, Barley Qala 1 and Barley Qala 2, represent a culmination of four years of dedicated research. These varieties have been carefully selected for their disease resistance and suitability to the Kurdistan Region’s climate.
Abdulsamad Muhammad Salih, the director of the Erbil Research Center, conveyed to 964media the center’s dedication to enhancing local agricultural practices. “Our goal is to encourage the growth and consumption of local produce, significantly reducing the need for importing wheat and barley,” he stated.
The selected wheat and barley varieties are currently under further examination by the Baghdad Grain Center Approval Committee, marking another step forward in their journey from research to widespread cultivation.
Research Center in Koya produces winter wheat
