KRG Prime Minister Inaugurates Qushtapa Silo

On Tuesday, 25 June 2024, Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), opened the Qushtapa Silo in Erbil Governorate’s Qushtapa district. The event was attended by Kamal Muslim, Minister of Trade and Industry, Omed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil, and other local farmers.

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Barzani toured the silo sections, observed the wheat receiving method, and expressed his satisfaction with the availability of silos in the majority of the Kurdistan Region’s cities and towns. He stressed the importance of silos in his speech, as well as the KRG’s prioritisation of agriculture. He also emphasised the government’s commitment to food security and the sale of agricultural output.

The Prime Minister stressed that agriculture is critical to the Kurdistan Region’s economy and assured farmers that their produce will not be wasted. He noted an increase in grain production in the region, as well as ongoing negotiations with the federal government to purchase a large volume of wheat from Kurdistan Region farmers. While the federal government has agreed to some of the region’s demands, it has not entirely met the KRG’s expectations.

The KRG Premier reaffirmed the KRG’s complete commitment to assisting farmers and working with the private sector to grow the region’s food economy.

The Qushtapa silo, built by the Ministry of Trade and Industry at a cost of IQD 21.3 billion, can store 40,000 tonnes of grain.