The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the region has achieved self-sufficiency in vegetable production, highlighting its growing capacity to supply agricultural products to markets across Iraq.
Ministry spokesperson Qarman Qadir Mawlood said the Kurdistan Region sends more than one million tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually to provinces in central and southern Iraq, noting that several crops are now being marketed on a large commercial scale.
He said products such as basil, mint and tarragon are supplied in substantial quantities to wholesale markets before being distributed to markets in different parts of the country.
Mawlood also emphasized that agricultural products destined for markets outside the region undergo laboratory testing to ensure they meet required quality, agricultural and health-safety standards.
The expansion of agricultural production comes as global demand for aromatic and leafy plants continues to rise, driven by their widespread use in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food production and cosmetics.
The global basil trade is currently estimated at around $1.57 billion, with projections indicating that it could reach $2.48 billion by 2035. Meanwhile, the global mint market is estimated at between $3.72 billion and $6.8 billion, and could approach $11 billion by 2030.
