“The festival is good to promote our apple that is famous in Barwari Bala,” Obaid Ravini, a farmer, told Rudaw’s Ayub Nasri on Friday.
The three-day event attracts farmers and visitors from the surrounding area as well as neighboring countries.
In addition to the famed apples, other products such as honey, cheese and other dairy products, and dried fruits were available. Farmers hope to promote their homegrown crops over imported produce from Turkey and Iran.
“Our ancestors lived on this produce that made them strong and healthy. I think we are once again returning to Kurdish traditional food, vegetables, fruits, and other local produce,” said participant Aveen Zaki.
A key objective of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s cabinet is to diversify the Kurdistan Region’s economy by taking advantage of its agricultural capabilities to export produce.
Also at the festival, Kurdish folk dancers performed traditional dances, known as halparke, and original art was on display.
