The price of domestic vegetables and fruits in the Kurdish market has fallen sharply.
The prices have fallen by 60 percent compared to last year, farmers say.
Part of the reason is a ban by Baghdad against Kurdish farm products in Iraq.
"Our products cannot enter southern Iraq. Also recent security concern on Baghdad roads have forced drivers to refrain from transporting goods to the center and southern Iraq,” Hassan Hussein, head of marketing at ministry of agriculture told Rudaw.
This year, domestic fruits and vegetables have filled internal needs. While, in 2014, nearly 900,000 tons and in 2015 800,000 tons of fruits and vegetables were imported from the neighboring countries
"This year’s products were the best, but no value. Since yesterday I have brought here two trucks of watermelons and I’m willing to sell one kilo for 200 IQD, but there is no demand," a farmer said.
Economists believe the government is at fault because they’ve no plans for such situations.
"The government should have agricultural plans before you start productions. Agricultural plan means having plans for consumption, export, import and prices,” economist Dr. Sabi Pirdawd, told Rudaw.
