ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Duhok province is holding the 18th annual two-day grape and honey festival as local farmers showcase produce from a harvest severely impacted by drought, an official said.
The festival, which kicked off on Monday, will run from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm where between 40 to 50 local farmers are displaying and selling their products, Ahmad Jamil, head of agriculture in Duhok, told Rudaw.
"This year we had 60 tons of grapes and 127 tons of honeys," Jamil said, highlighting the significant drop in honey production due to drought conditions.
The honey harvest plummeted by more than 50 percent from last year's 300 tons to just 127 tons, reflecting the severe impact of drought on the region's agricultural output.
Duhok produces most of the Kurdistan Region's grapes, with the province implementing protective measures for local farmers. From July 1 to November 15, grape imports to the Kurdistan Region were banned, "which greatly benefited the marketing of grapes," Jamil said.
The festival is featuring not only grapes and honeys but "all other products, including livestock products," according to the agriculture chief.
Duhok's agricultural products have gained international recognition, with Kurdistan Democratic Party leader President Masoud Barzani recently gifting local honey to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo during the opening of a Peshmerga memorial park in the French capital.
According to the Duhok Horticulture Directorate, more than 39 dunums of land within the province have been cultivated with vineyards, supporting the Region's grape production despite challenging climate conditions.
The festival underscores Kurdistan Region's efforts to promote local agriculture amid regional challenges, with officials using the event to highlight both the resilience of local farmers and the quality of indigenous produce.
Photos by Ayub Nasri/Rudaw