Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj

 A Kurdish farmer in Barzan has successfully cultivated black and red rice for the first time in Kurdistan after three years of experimentation with seeds imported from China.

A Kurdish farmer from the Barzan area has successfully cultivated black and red rice in the Kurdistan Region for the first time, turning a three-year agricultural experiment that began with seeds imported from China into a promising example of agricultural innovation and crop diversification.

Hassan Mala Musa, a farmer from the Barzan area, shared the story during his participation in Kurdistan 24’s economic news tour on Sunday. What began as an uncertain experiment has now produced a successful harvest and opened the possibility of introducing rice varieties that have traditionally been associated with East Asian agricultural markets to Kurdistan’s own fields.

Hassan said the idea originated from China, from where he directly imported the seeds of both black and red rice. Three years ago, he brought 150 kilograms of black rice seeds and another 150 kilograms of red rice seeds to Kurdistan. At the time, he did not know whether the Region’s soil and climate would support the unfamiliar varieties. The experiment, however, produced a good yield and encouraged him to continue cultivating and expanding production.

The rice is grown in the Barzan area, which Hassan believes has particularly suitable soil and climatic conditions. The cultivation cycle takes approximately five months, with planting beginning in the fifth month of the year and harvesting taking place in the tenth. Hassan said the water requirements are comparable to conventional rice varieties, making the crop potentially compatible with existing rice-farming practices in the Region.

Production is still relatively modest, with the cultivated area currently generating approximately one to two tons. Yet the importance of the experiment lies less in its current scale than in what it demonstrates: farmers in Kurdistan may be able to diversify rice production beyond the varieties traditionally cultivated in the Region.

One of the characteristics Hassan particularly emphasizes is the natural production process. He says no artificial fertilizers or chemical compounds were used during planting or cultivation, while the distinctive black and red colors of the rice are completely natural and do not depend on artificial additives during preparation or cooking.

Hassan also highlighted what he described as potential health benefits associated with the varieties. Citing research and medical guidance, he said black and red rice can be beneficial for people managing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and suggested that they may also have value for cancer patients. Such claims should ultimately be assessed through established medical and nutritional evidence, but the farmer’s experience reflects a broader consumer interest in naturally produced and nutritionally distinctive foods.

The economics of the experiment have also been significant. Hassan said the imported seeds were expensive, costing approximately $40 per kilogram when purchased from China. Despite that initial cost, the rice he now produces is being sold in the local market for around 6,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram.

Rather than relying exclusively on conventional agricultural distribution channels, Hassan markets his produce through social media platforms. He has also expressed a willingness to share his experience with other farmers and provide seeds and guidance to those interested in testing black and red rice cultivation in their own areas.

The experiment may not stop with two varieties. Hassan said he is also interested in introducing a naturally green rice variety from China and plans to import its seeds and test whether they can be successfully cultivated in Kurdistan.

That ambition reflects a wider shift taking place in the Kurdistan Region’s agricultural sector. Rice cultivation has expanded substantially in recent years, with more than 20,000 dunams reportedly planted with rice this year and production expected to reach approximately 25,000 tons. For farmers, rice has become increasingly attractive because of its market value and strong domestic demand.

The emergence of black and red rice adds another dimension to that expansion. These varieties are commonly associated with agricultural production in East Asian countries, including China and Thailand. Their successful cultivation in Barzan suggests that Kurdistan’s agricultural potential may be broader than the crops traditionally associated with its farms.

There is also an important economic dimension to the experiment. Importing agricultural products and seeds from abroad can expose local markets to external supply pressures, while developing locally adapted varieties could eventually create new opportunities for farmers, processors and agricultural entrepreneurs. If the varieties prove sustainable on a larger scale, the experiment could become a small but meaningful contribution to agricultural diversification and local food production.

For Kurdistan, however, rice is about more than economics. Rice occupies a central position in the daily diet of households across the Region. For many families, a meal without rice can feel incomplete, giving locally produced rice a significance that extends beyond its nutritional and commercial value.

The story of Hassan Mala Musa therefore represents more than the successful cultivation of an unfamiliar crop. It is a story of experimentation, adaptation and the willingness of an individual farmer to test whether an agricultural idea developed thousands of kilometers away can take root in Kurdistan.

The harvest may currently be measured in only one or two tons, but the larger question is whether such experiments can be replicated. If other Kurdish farmers can successfully cultivate black, red and potentially green rice under local conditions, what began as a personal agricultural experiment could gradually develop into a new niche within Kurdistan’s expanding agricultural economy.

Further Reading:

For more reading regarding Kurdistan’s agricultural diversification, local production, and efforts to expand agricultural exports beyond traditional crops read this article: Kurdistan’s First Onion Export: A New Chapter for the Region’s Agricultural Economy

About the Author

Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj is a Kurdish policy analyst and researcher focusing on Kurdistan, Iraq, Iran, regional geopolitics, security, energy and economic development. He is the founder of Kurdish Policy Analysis, where he examines political, economic and strategic developments shaping Kurdistan and the wider region.

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