The 18th annual Grape and Honey Festival opened in Duhok province on Monday, showcasing a harvest severely impacted by a devastating drought that has slashed honey production by more than half.

The two-day event, running from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., features between 40 to 50 local farmers displaying and selling their produce. Ahmad Jamil, the head of agriculture in Duhok, provided stark figures to Rudaw, revealing this year’s yield to be 60 tons of grapes and just 127 tons of honey—a dramatic drop from last year's 300-ton honey harvest.

"This year we had 60 tons of grapes and 127 tons of honey," Jamil stated, directly attributing the more than 50% plunge in honey production to the ongoing drought conditions.

The festival serves as a platform to highlight the challenges facing local farmers and the resilience of the region's agricultural sector. Duhok is the primary grape producer for the Kurdistan Region, and officials have implemented protective measures to support growers. A ban on grape imports to the Kurdistan Region from July 1 to November 15 has been crucial. Jamil confirmed that the ban "greatly benefited the marketing of grapes" for local producers.

Beyond grapes and honey, the agriculture chief noted that the event features "all other products, including livestock products," offering a comprehensive view of local produce.

The quality of Duhok's agricultural goods has garnered international attention. Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani recently presented local honey as a gift to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo during the opening of a Peshmerga memorial park in France.

Despite the challenging climate, the region's grape production remains supported by extensive cultivation. According to the Duhok Horticulture Directorate, over 39 dunams of land in the province are dedicated to vineyards.