The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources has lifted the ban on tomato imports after prices rose sharply in local markets. Officials took this step to increase supply and ease pressure on consumers.
Ministry spokesperson Hiwa Ali announced the decision. He said the ministry reached this conclusion after conducting field assessments across all provinces and independent administrations in the region. These inspections showed a clear drop in local tomato supply, which pushed prices higher in recent days.
Ali explained that the ministry acted under the Law on the Protection and Development of Agricultural Products No. 4 of 2008. “We found that tomato supply in the markets had declined significantly, and prices had increased,” he said. “Therefore, we decided to lift the import ban to restore balance in both supply and pricing.”
According to the ministry, the price of one kilogram of tomatoes has reached 1,500 Iraqi dinars. The new decision took effect on March 29, allowing traders to import tomatoes into the Kurdistan Region. Officials expect this move to stabilize prices and ensure consistent availability in local markets.
Earlier, on March 26, 2026, Iraqi Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mehdi al-Jubouri announced a similar measure at the federal level. He said Iraq resumed imports of tomatoes and eggplants to meet domestic demand. Authorities plan to continue imports until local production can fully cover market needs.
Al-Jubouri also reassured farmers in the Kurdistan Region. He confirmed that no restrictions apply to sending agricultural products from the region to central and southern Iraq. Farmers can continue to transport tomatoes and eggplants to other provinces without obstacles.
Each year, the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture imposes seasonal import bans to protect local farmers during peak harvest periods. However, when domestic production declines and prices rise, the ministry allows imports again to maintain market stability and protect consumers.
