On October 10th, 2024, an initial shipment of 25 tons of potatoes from the Kurdistan Region is scheduled for export to South Africa through the Ibrahim Khalil's International Border Crossing Gate, as part of a broader agreement to export a total of 100 tons in several phases. Hemin Sayed Murad, the General Director of Agriculture in Erbil, informed Kurdistan 24 that a local investment company has entered into a contract with a Liberian entity to facilitate the export of potatoes cultivated by regional farmers to South Africa. This initiative aligns with the Kurdistan Regional Government's ninth cabinet's strategy to enhance the agricultural sector and overall economic infrastructure within the region. The export of potatoes to South Africa is among the measures aimed at promoting local agricultural products both domestically and internationally.
Concurrently, the export of Kurdistan's potatoes to Jordan has encountered obstacles, with the Iraqi Federal Government blocking a proposed export of 5,000 tons of potatoes, despite Jordan's formal request. Bashar Moshir, owner of K.H. Potato Investment and Export Company, highlighted the challenges posed by the Iraqi Federal Government's restrictions. Despite these hurdles, efforts continue to facilitate the export of Kurdistan's agricultural produce, including potatoes and Akre rice, to neighboring countries.
In addition to South Africa and Jordan, the Kurdistan Region has successfully exported significant quantities of potatoes to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and parts of Western Kurdistan, including Qamishlo and Hasakah. The agricultural sector in Kurdistan has seen a dramatic increase in potato production, with an estimated 86453 dunums of land dedicated to potato cultivation, yielding over 800,000 tons annually. The Nawkuri plain in Bardarash District, Duhok province, stands out as the leading production area, contributing over 300,000 tons each year. The region's ability to produce approximately 30 varieties of potatoes has bolstered its reputation in the Middle East, particularly among Gulf countries.
Source: Kurdistan24