DUHOK, Kurdistan Region – Farmers hoping to profit from the sale of their agricultural products fear they will be undercut by cheaper imports from neighboring countries, particularly Syria.
Sadiq Omar is a well-known farmer in Semel, Duhok. He has planted 80 acres of potato crops this year. His yield is between 15 and 17 tons, but he is concerned foreign imports from neighboring countries will eat into his sales.
“If the government does not help us, we will be destroyed … If the border crossings are not closed, we will not be able to do anything. If potatoes are imported from Syria, Turkey and Iraq, ours will not be sold.”
He was particularly concerned by the Kurdistan Region’s unofficial border crossing with Syria.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been imposing taxes on imported products for the last three years in a bid to boost local producers.
Last year, it imposed taxes on tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and some other imported products. It is expected to do the same on April 15.
The KRG’s financial crisis has caused many people to turn to agriculture to support their incomes, especially wheat. But a lack of rain in some areas has harmed crop yields.
“Everyone has bought a tractor and excavator to do farming because there are no job [opportunities] … Agriculture used to be good but now it has been negatively affected by lack rain and other weather conditions,” said Ibrahim Khalil, another farmer.
In 2013, there were 710 acres of planted soil in Duhok province. This increased to 835 acres in 2017. Some 90 percent of useful soil will be used for planting this year.
Jihad Ahmed, assistant director of Duhok agriculture office, told Rudaw that potatoes in particular have become a popular crop.
“I can say 70 percent of potatoes are produced in Duhok. Also, production of rice [in Duhok] has increased.”
Local agriculture has been able to compete with imports. The Kurdistan Region is not 100 percent dependent on any local agricultural product.
