Kurdistan Region’s agriculture sector is growing rapidly, supplying the majority of Iraq’s food needs. Over the past five years, from 2020 to 2025, more people have turned to farming. Rizgar Hama Khidir, Advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, said the number of farmers has increased by 25%. Today, agriculture employs 18% of the region’s population. Its products now serve as a major food source for Iraq.
Khidir predicts that participation in agriculture could rise another 25% by 2030. This growth shows the region’s commitment to building a strong and sustainable food sector.
Updated statistics highlight this expansion. Approximately 1 to 1.2 million people work in agriculture. Around 50,000 farmers rely entirely on their crops for income. In total, the region has over 110,000 farmers, gardeners, and beekeepers. This includes 51,000 grain farmers, 100,000 gardeners, and 10,000 beekeepers. Additionally, three million acres are used for wheat cultivation, and 250,000 dunums of productive orchards are registered.
Moreover, Kurdistan has emerged as Iraq’s food basket. While Iraq faces severe climate challenges, including desertification and water shortages, the region supplies much of the demand for central and southern Iraqi markets. Kurdistan agriculture growth has become a key factor in food security for the country.
Therefore, government has introduced measures to support farmers. It facilitates exports of surplus products to Iraqi and international markets. It prohibits the import of foreign goods during the ripening season of local crops. The government supports farmers by taxing imported products and charging commissions to buyers instead of farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture provides wheat seeds at subsidized rates, offering a 50% discount. This year, 11,000 tons of seeds will be supplied at 440,000 dinars per ton, compared to 880,000 dinars on the open market. A gene bank preserves rare and indigenous seeds of Kurdistan.
Farmers receive training in modern farming methods. The government encourages farmers to grow climate-resilient crops such as olives and peanuts. Authorities promote local products through festivals and weekly markets across the region. These efforts ensure that Kurdistan agriculture growth remains strong, sustainable, and increasingly productive.
