Peregraf — Heavy snowfall, coupled with delays in clearing roads, has caused extensive damage to dozens of poultry farms in the Mangesh sub-district of Duhok, leaving farmers facing major financial losses.
Nawzad Abdullah, a poultry farm owner in Mangesh, told Peregraf that the recent snowfall led to severe destruction across the area. “The roof of one of my farm halls collapsed and was completely destroyed. My losses exceed $60,000, and dozens of other farm owners have suffered similar damage,” he said.
There are around 100 poultry farms in the Mangesh sub-district, an area known for its suitability for poultry production. Hundreds of families rely on this sector as their primary source of income.
Abdullah urged the authorities to improve road infrastructure and respond more swiftly during extreme weather. “This was a natural event, but snow removal teams could have cleared the roads sooner. In such situations, the government should increase the number of snow-clearing teams. Had this been done, the scale of damage would not have been so high,” he added.
As extreme cold and snowfall continue to grip the region and damage farm facilities, many owners are being forced to sell their remaining chickens at half their normal price.
Rashid Ibrahim, who works at a poultry farm in the village of Majlmkht in the Mangesh area, said the farm where he is employed suffered losses exceeding 15 million Iraqi dinars. “The remaining chickens have fallen ill due to the snow and cold. They cannot be properly sold in the market, so we are forced to sell them cheaply,” he told Peregraf.
Ibrahim also criticized the recurring lack of effective support. “For years, poultry project owners have suffered repeated losses. Committees come to assess the damage for compensation, but the compensation is never sufficient. We have also been demanding for decades that the dirt roads leading to the farms be paved,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Mangesh Sub-district Directorate has begun receiving applications from citizens affected by the snow and rain. Committees tasked with assessing damages are expected to conduct field visits to the affected sites as part of the compensation process.