Akre Hosts Festival Showcasing Local Products

[Anthea]

Akre Festival Showcasing
Local Agricultural Products

The second Akre Festival for local products opened on Thursday at the town’s modern wholesale market, drawing participation from more than 70 farmers and traders alongside five food companies

The three-day event, which will run until midnight on Saturday, September 20, is open to visitors daily from noon to midnight. Organizers say the festival aims to strengthen the bond between farmers and consumers, promote local products, and encourage investment in the agricultural sector, as reported by Kurdistan 24.

Fazil Mustafa, Director of Akre Agriculture, told the report that enthusiasm was high ahead of the festival. “More than 70 farmers, traders, and five food companies are participating in the festival. Also, 70 booths have been set up for displaying and marketing local products from Akre and other areas of the Kurdistan Region,” he said, expressing confidence in a strong turnout.

Local farmers and producers used the platform to highlight the value of their goods. Rizwan Ramazan, a farmer from Akre, said: “We have brought more than five types of Kurdish rice, bulgur, noodles, broad beans, sesame, hulled grains, apricots, and many other local products from the Akre area to the festival. We believe we will sell all of them because there is a great demand for our local products.”

Haji Hikmat, a well-known beekeeper in Akre, welcomed the opportunity to directly connect with buyers. “This festival is a very good opportunity to market our local products, especially honey. For us, it’s like a shop because we can sell our product in a short time, for which we have worked hard and stayed up late throughout the year,” he said.

Akre, located in Duhok province, is regarded as one of the Kurdistan Region’s most fertile agricultural districts. Known for producing rice, sesame, tahini, bulgur, honey, and a wide variety of fruits and grains, Akre’s farms not only supply local markets but also export to other parts of Kurdistan and abroad.

The district has gained recognition for maintaining traditional farming practices while also adopting modern packaging and export systems. Factories such as Arias package Akre’s rice, sumac, and tahini for distribution to international markets, expanding the district’s reach beyond the region.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has in recent years emphasized support for agriculture as part of its diversification strategy to reduce dependence on oil revenues. It has encouraged festivals such as Akre’s to give farmers a direct venue to promote their products, raise awareness of the importance of local food security, and showcase the region’s agricultural potential to private investors.

By highlighting both traditional and modern aspects of local production, the Akre Festival has become not only a commercial hub but also a cultural gathering that underscores the district’s reputation as a key contributor to Kurdistan’s agricultural identity.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/894818