The Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources of Kurdistans Regional Government, Abdul Sattar Majid, reported that the regions total potato production in 2016 reached 243 thousand tonnes and that they expected to export 500 tonnes of potatoes to Russia this year.

Majid said in an interview with "Economy News" that "the Ministry had started considering the importance of potato cultivation back in 2008, when production amounted to just a thousand tonnes a year," noting that "in the following years, the production has increased gradually, reaching 243 thousand tonnes in 2016, which is more than the local market needs."

"The Ministry intends to export 500 tonnes of potatoes to Russia this year, just as we have exported to Saudi Arabia and other countries in previous years," said Majid.

As for the distribution of potato seeds, Majid said that the Ministry has distributed three 3,400 tonnes this year to growers with 25% support