ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday inaugurated Kavin Farm, the Region's largest livestock and dairy project, in Duhok province, showcasing the cabinet’s dedication to bolstering the agriculture sector and ensuring food security.

The construction of the 90-million-dollar project was completed a little over two years after Prime Minister Barzani laid the foundation stone for it in June 2022.

“Two years ago, we came here to lay the foundation stone for this project, and today we are here to inaugurate the project,” said Prime Minister Barzani at the inauguration, expressing his gratitude for the efforts that went into completing the project.

The opening of the “strategic” farm in Duhok’s Simele is a testament to the town’s significance in progressing such projects, according to Prime Minister Barzani who noted that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) plans to implement several other projects in Simele, stressing that the people of the town “deserve even more.”

Drone shot of Kavin Farm, the Kurdistan Region’s largest livestock and dairy project, in Duhok province, which was inaugurated by PM @masrourbarzani on Monday in an effort to bolster the agriculture sector and ensure food security in the Region pic.twitter.com/JcGC789LKS

— The New Region (@thenewregion) October 7, 2024

The farm covers around 3,000 acres of land, has a capacity to produce 120,000 liters of milk per day, and is expected to create around 2,500 jobs.

“Creating job opportunities for our people is one of the things that we have always wanted the private sector to help the public sector with, so that people do not always await government employment and can work in projects like this,” said Prime Minister Barzani, stressing that such projects play a significant or role in improving the Kurdistan Region’s economy.

The Kurdish premier reiterated his cabinet’s commitment to strengthening the agriculture sector to promote local products and ensure food security at times of crises. He also highlighted the government’s continuous efforts to make the Kurdistan Region a player in the international market.

“We have for a long time made serious efforts to connect Kurdistan to the international market through exporting Kurdistan local products into the outside world, and we have succeeded in that as we have exported agricultural products from Kurdistan to the Gulf and some other countries,” said Prime Minister Barzani.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday inaugurated Kavin Farm, the Region's largest livestock and dairy project, in Duhok province, showcasing the cabinet’s dedication to bolstering the agriculture sector and ensuring food security. pic.twitter.com/k8vUbQ8UF0

— The New Region (@thenewregion) October 7, 2024

Under the tenure of Prime Minister Barzani, the Kurdistan Region has exported several local products to international markets, most notably honey, pomegranates, and potatoes, in an effort to diversify the economy and motivate local farmers.

“In terms of economic diversification, we have a plan, including the sectors of agriculture, tourism, and industry. We want to pay more attention to the industry sector in the future to create more jobs and develop skills in this sector in Kurdistan,” Prime Minister Barzani told The New Region's media partner, AVA Media, in a recent interview.