Fig festival opens in Kirkuk's Kara Hanjir district

KIRKUK, Iraq — A three-day fig festival opened Thursday evening in the Kara Hanjir district of Kirkuk, drawing farmers and producers from across the province and the Kurdistan Region. Festival organizer Nizar Rashid said the event was designed to showcase the area's highest-quality fig varieties alongside other local agricultural products. Rashid noted that the name Kara Hanjir historically means "black fig" and that the fruit has long held a central place in the district's identity. Farmer Hassan Jabri said the festival gives producers a chance to present their goods directly to consumers and open new marketing channels. Participant Shukurallah Abdullah said the festival was being held for the first time in the area and brings together different fig varieties grown in Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Region. The program includes fig and local produce exhibitions, handicrafts, folk cuisine and folkloric performances. Organizers said figs are a symbol of Kara Hanjir's agricultural identity and that such events can add marketing value to the crop while contributing to rural tourism. No further details on expected attendance or commercial targets were provided.