Duhok will host its first Potato Festival on Monday, Dec. 15. The event marks a major step for the governorate’s fast-growing agricultural sector. Potato production in Duhok is expected to reach a record 600,000 tons in 2025. This growth places the province among Iraq’s leading suppliers and opens new export opportunities.
Therefore, the festival highlights Duhok’s shift from importing crops to producing and exporting them. Government policies that focus on food security and infrastructure have driven this change. As a result, potato farming has expanded rapidly in recent years.
Moreover, the Duhok Governorate’s General Directorate of Agriculture and the University of Duhok jointly organize the event. The Netherlands Consulate also supports the festival. This support reflects rising international confidence in agricultural products from the Kurdistan Region.
Ahmed Jamil, Director General of Agriculture in Duhok, said the festival aims to support farmers and expand market access. He said that the event will connect farmers with traders and companies. These links will help distribute potatoes inside Iraq and abroad. The festival will also include a scientific section. This section will focus on research, innovation, and food industries tied to potato production.
Moreover, organizers have prepared around 50 tents for the festival. Some tents will display raw potato crops from selected high-yield farmers. Other tents will present Kurdish and international food products. Additionally, a separate industrial section will host processing and food industry companies. This area will highlight opportunities for value-added production.
Furthermore, potato production in Duhok increased by 70 percent in 2023 and continues to grow. Farmers now cultivate potatoes across 48,000 hectares. This scale makes Duhok one of Iraq’s most productive farming regions. Officials link this success to policies from the Ninth Cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government. These policies include an import ban that protected local farmers and encouraged investment.
Moreover, local production now meets domestic demand. Authorities plan to export potatoes to Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, and southern Iraq. To support surplus output, Duhok has built 126 cold storage facilities. These facilities reduce waste and help stabilize prices.
The festival will also introduce new potato varieties. This step supports diversification and long-term growth. Officials see the event as part of a broader plan to turn Duhok into a regional agricultural and export hub.
