The city of Erbil is seeing major growth in farming thanks to over a decade of Dutch-Kurdish cooperation. During a recent visit to Carrefour in Erbil, Dutch Consul General Adriaan IJsselstein praised the partnership’s success. He revealed that potato production jumped from just 2,000 tons per year to more than 600,000 tons today.
IJsselstein attended the launch of a new local potato variety now available at Carrefour. He explained that this variety shows the strength of the long-term collaboration. The Dutch side supported the entire farming process — from seed to harvest and even food processing. This teamwork created a more productive and modern system for local farmers.
This potato project is creating thousands of jobs across the Kurdistan Region. It also helps improve food security and opens the door to possible exports. IJsselstein stressed that such developments are vital for the region’s economy and farming future.
The Dutch official also pointed to future plans. The partnership could soon expand into vegetable and dairy farming. Dutch companies are eager to invest more, while Kurdish farmers continue to benefit from their advanced knowledge and tools.
As IJsselstein said, this is truly a win-win deal. The Kurdistan Region is growing its farming strength while opening new markets for Dutch firms. The Netherlands will continue helping Kurdish agriculture become even more advanced and self-sufficient.