The first-ever Dairy Products Festival officially opened in the Semel district of Duhok province, attracting large crowds and bringing together around 100 livestock breeders and farmers to showcase locally produced dairy goods from across the Kurdistan Region.

The three-day festival quickly became a major attraction as visitors showed overwhelming interest in traditional homemade dairy products, especially authentic Kurdish white cheese and Zhazhi, a fermented Kurdish cheese widely valued for its natural production process and cholesterol-free qualities.

Vendors reported exceptionally high sales on the festival’s opening day. One participant said more than 300 kilograms of dairy products were sold within a single day, reflecting growing public demand for local and traditional foods.

Although local markets currently offer more than 23 varieties of dairy products—many imported from outside the Kurdistan Region—festival visitors strongly preferred locally made products, praising their freshness, quality, and traditional flavor.

Semel Mayor Dizhwar Shawkat described the event as an important economic opportunity for local farmers and producers.

“This festival provided an excellent business opportunity for participants to display their products,” Shawkat told Kurdistan24. “There was a very large turnout and many visitors. A significant amount of the showcased products were sold.”

Farmer and vendor Ahmed Obeid said customer demand was particularly strong for traditional cheese and Zhazhi sourced from areas including Van, Hakkari, and villages in the Barwari region.

“There is huge demand for cheese and Zhazhi,” Obeid said. “We offer several types, including aged Zhazhi and other high-quality varieties with excellent taste. Many people are eager to buy them.”

Visitors also emphasized the authenticity and health benefits of the products on display. Customer Salahaddin Mohammed praised the traditional preservation methods used for Kurdish cheese.

“These are all our own local products—homemade cheese,” he said. “The cheese is very good and contains no harmful fats. I bought this one because it is stored in animal skin. Cheese kept in plastic spoils quickly, but the one preserved in skin stays fresh much longer.”

Festival organizers said the strong public response and high sales have encouraged plans to expand the event in future years by increasing the number of exhibition tents and creating additional sections dedicated to supporting local producers and strengthening domestic production.