Shafaq News- Kirkuk
Fish farmers in Iraq's Kirkuk province voiced that have beenunable to transport their products to other provinces for nearly five months,leaving large quantities of fish stranded in ponds and driving up productioncosts.
Mansour Ahmed Al-Bayati, director of Kirkuk's VeterinaryTeaching Hospital, told Shafaq News that the hospital had asked the AgricultureMinistry to lift the restrictions, noting that decisions on transporting fishare made by the ministry rather than local authorities.
“The ministry is reviewing proposals to resume shipmentswhile maintaining veterinary and public health requirements.’
Kirkuk has about 800 fish farms, most of them located inDaquq, Lailan, Altun Kupri and Dibis.
Farmers say the restrictions have cut them off from theirmain markets. Hawkar Abdullah, a producer in Daquq, said fish can no longerpass through the Taza and Tuz Khurmatu checkpoints, limiting sales to localdemand of about 300 kilograms a day. “While producers in other provincesresumed shipments after obtaining permits about two months ago, Kirkuk'sfarmers are still waiting for approval.” Another farmer, Abdullah Khalil,warned that keeping fish in ponds for longer periods has sharply increased feedand maintenance costs, threatening the viability of many fish farms.