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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A surge in fungal diseases has severely damaged walnut trees in the Kurdistan Region’s mountainous areas of Hawraman near the Iranian border, including Halabja province, with farmers seeing massive financial losses due to the dramatic plummet in harvest.
Walnuts are usually harvested in the fall between the months of September and November when the green outer hulls start to dry and split.
Hawraman region is famous for having the best quality walnuts with the produce often exported to other parts of Iraq and largely used for domestic use. But this cannot be the case this year.
Arian Mozaffer, a 28-year-old walnut farmer and gardener, said that farmers will experience an 80 percent decline in produce compared to the previous year.
Mozaffar used to go to his orchard with several friends to harvest the walnuts, but he said that he only needed one friend this year to give him a helping hand.
"This year, diseases have significantly impacted nut production. There are very few nuts, not just here but throughout the entire region. We have come to harvest this orchard, and we do not expect to be compensated for our effort," Mozaffer said.
Hawraman supplies the Kurdistan Region’s markets with 70 to 100 tons of walnuts annually.
Kosalan Mohammed, another walnut grower, echoed the sentiment that their produce is down by 80 percent.
"This year is unlike any other. There are very few walnuts. Last year, I harvested three to four thousand walnuts from this garden. This year, there aren't even two hundred walnuts," said Mohammed.
A shortage of walnuts is already prevalent in the markets, and sellers are compelled to import walnuts from other countries.
"Our walnut supply is limited, and we depend on the other side of Hawraman [in Iran], especially the eastern [Iranian Kurdish] highlands. However, the price of a kilogram of walnuts has increased by 1,500 [dinars] this year," said Yasin Saber, a walnut seller.
Walnut is one of the key products of the Hawraman region. According to data from the Halabja Agriculture Department, there are 99,000 walnut trees in Halabja province, and the walnut production varies from year to year.
Walnuts are usually harvested in the fall between the months of September and November when the green outer hulls start to dry and split.
Hawraman region is famous for having the best quality walnuts with the produce often exported to other parts of Iraq and largely used for domestic use. But this cannot be the case this year.
Arian Mozaffer, a 28-year-old walnut farmer and gardener, said that farmers will experience an 80 percent decline in produce compared to the previous year.
Mozaffar used to go to his orchard with several friends to harvest the walnuts, but he said that he only needed one friend this year to give him a helping hand.
"This year, diseases have significantly impacted nut production. There are very few nuts, not just here but throughout the entire region. We have come to harvest this orchard, and we do not expect to be compensated for our effort," Mozaffer said.
Hawraman supplies the Kurdistan Region’s markets with 70 to 100 tons of walnuts annually.
Kosalan Mohammed, another walnut grower, echoed the sentiment that their produce is down by 80 percent.
"This year is unlike any other. There are very few walnuts. Last year, I harvested three to four thousand walnuts from this garden. This year, there aren't even two hundred walnuts," said Mohammed.
A shortage of walnuts is already prevalent in the markets, and sellers are compelled to import walnuts from other countries.
"Our walnut supply is limited, and we depend on the other side of Hawraman [in Iran], especially the eastern [Iranian Kurdish] highlands. However, the price of a kilogram of walnuts has increased by 1,500 [dinars] this year," said Yasin Saber, a walnut seller.
Walnut is one of the key products of the Hawraman region. According to data from the Halabja Agriculture Department, there are 99,000 walnut trees in Halabja province, and the walnut production varies from year to year.
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