HALABJA – The activities of the twelfth Pomegranate and Autumn Festival launched in Halabja city in the Kurdistan Region, with the participation of more than 550 orchard owners, farmers, and business owners, in an atmosphere reflecting the role of local production in revitalizing the economy and tourism in the region.

With wide participation from local producers, the twelfth Pomegranate and Autumn Festival was opened yesterday, Wednesday, 28 October, in Halabja city in the Kurdistan Region. The festival, which continues for four days, witnesses a variety of events.

In this context, Jiya Qassem, Director General of Tourism in Halabja, said: "We have opened the doors of the festival to tourists, and we are very pleased to welcome our guests. We tell them Halabja is yours and we are here to serve you. We have prepared many activities; for example, a musical concert will be held this afternoon with the participation of many artists."

Speaking about the distinctive features of the festival this year, she noted that the most prominent difference compared to previous years is the increasing focus on the environmental aspect. "We sought, through attention to the cleanliness and beauty of Halabja, to create an atmosphere reflecting the culture and identity of the region. A team has also been allocated to organize traffic and facilitate the movement of tourists. Favorable weather conditions are expected to enhance the festival's success."

Regarding the provision of services to tourists, Jiya Qassem explained that there are 16 service teams on standby, noting that the festival is capable of receiving more than 1,600 visitors, confirming that such an initiative has contributed to creating new job opportunities for younger groups.

Women and Local Products at the Festival

Women play a pivotal role in the festival, displaying their handmade products. Asrin Mohammed, one of the participants in the festival who works in grape cultivation and local crop production, says: "Halabja's pomegranate is famous for its quality, and we are keen to participate in the festival almost every year. We hope people will visit us, and even if they do not want to buy, we welcome them to take photos with our products."

She confirmed that in addition to promoting local products and attracting tourists to the region, the festival creates a new commercial opportunity for farmers and orchard owners, opening important economic horizons for the residents of Halabja.

For her part, Jiyan Ahmed, a resident of Halabja city who owns a pomegranate orchard, adds: "Our family plants pomegranates every year; my husband handles the irrigation of the orchard, and together we harvest the crop. We work on transforming pomegranates into various products, such as pomegranate seeds, dried fruits, and pomegranate juice. Our sales are not limited to festivals only; people also come to our house directly to buy pomegranates and juice."

Speaking about women's role in the agricultural sector, Nishtiman Jamil Karmiani notes that women manage their work in a different way, characterized by better organization and a more methodical approach. "The creative touches that women add to displaying and decorating products are clearly evident at the Halabja Pomegranate Festival. Women have high attention to detail, alongside a unique and innovative style in displaying their goods."