Fig harvest delayed in Duhok district after prolonged winter

AMEDI, Iraq — Fig harvesting in the Amedi district of Duhok province has started later than usual this summer because of an extended winter and heavy rainfall, the local agriculture directorate said. Fazıl Mustafa, director of the Amedi Agriculture Department, said the delay stemmed from the long winter season and intense precipitation in the area. The district has around 270,000 fig trees, he said, adding that current indicators suggest a good season, with output expected to rise gradually as more fruit reaches the market and harvesting accelerates with ripening. Local farmer Ahmed Gazi said growers have faced difficulties tied to the weather-driven delay and voiced concern that it could affect overall production volumes this year. The trees are only now beginning to ripen, leaving vendors with limited supply early in the season. At local markets, vendor Lazzkin Hasan Ali said figs on sale are freshly picked from the Amedi area and include varieties such as Shakri, Yahya Bek, Binati, Surhal and black fig. Prices range from 5,000 to 15,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram depending on variety and quality, driven by limited supply at the start of the season, Ali said. Ali added that figs are mostly bought in quantities of one to three kilograms for household consumption and are also used in jams and some local dishes. Amedi's geography and climate make it known across the Kurdistan Region for its fig varieties, he said.