Kurdistan Regional Government Initiates Major Olive Tree Planting Project in Erbil
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has unveiled an ambitious plan to plant over 20,000 olive trees in the Kesnazan area around Erbil, aiming to significantly boost olive oil production in the region.
In a detailed statement, the Ministry highlighted that the project is being meticulously overseen by the Director General of Horticulture, Forestry, and Fisheries, along with a specialized ministerial committee. The committee is tasked with providing essential recommendations to ensure the project's successful implementation.
Financial support for this initiative is being provided by the Rwanga Foundation, a prominent non-governmental organization in the Kurdistan Region, in collaboration with the German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ).
Olive cultivation has been a growing practice among hundreds of farmers in the Kurdistan Region for several years, with the harvested olives processed into olive oil at seven regional factories. Shakir Mohammed, a local gardener, expressed optimism about the region's agricultural potential. “Kurdistan is a land of gold, very suitable for planting olive trees. Currently, we can export thousands of tons of olive oil,” Mohammed told Kurdistan 24.
The Kurdistan Region is home to seven olive oil factories, which play a pivotal role in both domestic supply and international export, significantly benefiting the local farming community.
In a show of support for the region's olive oil industry, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani visited the Rasan olive oil factory in Halabja province on Thursday, February 22, 2024. Established in 2018 and currently undergoing expansion, the Rasan factory has become a cornerstone of olive production in the area, providing direct and indirect employment to over 250 residents of Halabja province.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources remains committed to enhancing the region's agricultural output through such initiatives, bolstering the local economy and promoting sustainable farming practices.
