ERBIL () — Farmers in Akre district of Duhok province have begun harvesting this year’s rice crop, with more than 13,000 dunams of farmland cultivated with rice and production expected to exceed 13,000 tons, according to the Akre Agriculture Directorate.
Farmers in areas surrounding Akre have started harvesting the crop using traditional sickles and threshing equipment after around five months of work and tending to their fields.
The directorate said this year’s harvest has been good, with the “Tahalluf” and “Misri” varieties among the first to mature and reach local markets.
Six different rice varieties have been cultivated in the Akre area this year: six-month rice, Sadri, Tahalluf, Bondar, Kasnaditi and Misri.
The price of locally produced Kurdish rice currently ranges between 2,000 and 4,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram, depending on the variety.
Akre’s Rice Production
Akre is considered one of the major rice-producing areas in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Its climate and fertile soil provide favorable conditions for rice cultivation, helping establish the district as a notable source of locally produced rice.
Rice cultivation also provides an important source of income for farmers in the area, while locally produced varieties have strong demand in markets across the Kurdistan Region.
According to the Akre Agriculture Directorate, a significant portion of this year’s production is expected to be sent to markets outside the district, including other provinces, once harvesting is completed.
KRG Pushes Agricultural Development to Strengthen Food Security
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has made agricultural development and food security a strategic priority, increasing investment in the sector while expanding grain-storage, greenhouse, and cold-storage infrastructure.
The KRG says these measures are intended to strengthen local production, reduce reliance on imports, improve food security, and build a more resilient agricultural economy capable of meeting domestic demand and responding to regional and global disruptions.
