The third annual Barwari Local Products Festival has launched in the picturesque Barwari Bala region, highlighting the area's rich agricultural heritage and growing appeal as a tourist destination.

Held in the Kani Masi sub-district of Amedi, Duhok province, the five-day event celebrates the outputs of a region famed for its fertile lands and diverse, organic produce.

The festival has seen exponential growth since it began, according to organizers. Reving Hururi, a member of the festival’s supervisory board, told Kurdistan24 that the event has expanded significantly in scale and popularity.

“At the first festival, we had only 45 tents and about 3,000 visitors,” Hururi said. “Last year, we increased the number of tents to 100 and welcomed twice as many attendees. This year, 200 tents have been set up, making this the largest and most unique festival of its kind in the region.”

This year's event is expected to draw a massive crowd, with organizers anticipating between 60,000 and 70,000 visitors. Special arrangements, including overnight tents, have been made to accommodate travelers from distant areas. In total, approximately 80,000 guests are projected to attend and purchase locally made goods.

The festival has also become a pan-Kurdistan affair, attracting participants from all four parts of Kurdistan, underscoring the region's shared cultural roots and economic collaboration.

The Barwari region is renowned for its high-quality apples, honey, nuts, and a variety of other organic agricultural products, which benefit from the area's mountainous terrain and mild climate.

The festival underscores a broader initiative supported by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to bolster local production and exports, thereby strengthening rural economies. A significant milestone in this effort was reached on December 20, 2023, when the first-ever shipment of Barwari apples was exported from the Kurdistan Region to Qatar.

More than just a marketplace, the Barwari Local Products Festival plays a vital role in promoting eco-tourism and providing crucial support to local farmers and artisans, ensuring their traditions and livelihoods continue to thrive.