A major agricultural season is underway across the fertile Nawkur Plain, where local farmers expect this year’s potato harvest to exceed 200,000 tons. The strong output further reinforces the area’s role as a key agricultural hub in the Kurdistan Region.
The harvest has created thousands of jobs for rural communities. More than 3,000 seasonal workers are employed each day, arriving before sunrise to collect freshly harvested potatoes. Although mechanized harvesters lift the crops from the ground, workers continue to sort the potatoes by hand.
The large-scale harvest also benefits transport companies, packaging suppliers, and local traders. According to agricultural authorities, farmers cultivated about 18,000 dunams of land this season. Favorable weather conditions produced high-quality potatoes, often referred to locally as “yellow gold.”
The crop has attracted wholesale buyers from across the region, while cold storage facilities are preserving a significant share of the harvest to ensure a stable year-round supply.
Government policies have also supported the sector’s growth. Authorities enforce seasonal import restrictions during the domestic harvest to protect local farmers from lower-priced foreign imports. The government applies similar measures to other key agricultural products, including tomatoes.
The strong harvest highlights the growing importance of agriculture to the Kurdistan Region’s economy, providing jobs, supporting local businesses, and strengthening food security.