From Waste to Flower, How a Young Woman from Halabja Started Producing Natural Fertilizer

Peregraf- Bwar Qadir

Sima Saman stands amid two piles of fruit waste. The 24-year-old woman, dressed in Kurdish men’s pants, picks up some pomegranate peels, smelling them. She points to a small machine, resembling a meat chopper. "Here we grind the peels and other fruit waste as the first step for producing organic fertilizer," she explains.

The idea came to Sima one day during her commute to university in early 2024. She noticed large piles of pomegranate peels scattered along the road. These peels were discarded by juice factories after processing the fruit. Sima also observed similar waste during the annual Pomegranate Festival in Halabja, where tons of fruit waste, including pomegranate peels, cluttered the streets. This recurring sight sparked an idea in her to turn the waste into something useful.

Halabja, located in Kurdistan, largely depends on agriculture and has fertile soil. However, the region’s environment faces significant threats. In 1988, Halabja was attacked by Saddam Hussein’s regime with chemical weapons, killing thousands and severely injuring many others. The soil was partially poisoned, and to this day, many farmers continue to use chemical fertilizers in hopes of increasing their yields of grains, walnuts, and pomegranates.

According to municipal statistics, more than 150 tons of wastes are collected daily in Halabja Province. Most of this food waste is land filled outside the provincial center, where it decomposes over a few months, producing methane—a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Sima learned about the environmental dangers of food waste from her sister, who studies agriculture at the University of Halabja. The siblings realized that this simple practice of land filling food waste was one reason Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are among the five most affected regions by climate change globally, as reported during Iraq’s participation in COP27 in 2022 and in joint statements by the FAO and WFP on World Food Day in 2023.

"I aimed to stop the use of chemicals on our land because I want to protect the environment and soil, and I want to erase the bitter memory of the chemical attack," Sima says. "I also wanted to create a source of livelihood."

It wasn’t just the energy of a young woman that made the project possible. Her family supported Sima in establishing the "Kula Hero Compost Factory." The German service provider GIZ provided financial assistance and courses in project management and marketing. The provincial Ministry of Agriculture granted her a temporary plot of one dunum (2,500 square meters). "We encourage farmers and citizens to use natural fertilizers because we suffer great economic losses from importing chemical fertilizers. All the raw materials for producing them are available in Kurdistan," says Sattar Mahmoud, director general of the agricultural department. Sima’s sister convinced her professors to supervise the project so that they could base their work on scientific research.

Seven kilometers outside the city, where the grass is green even before spring arrives, the small factory is set up. A tent holds compost products alongside tools like shovels, buckets, and measuring scales. Piles of fruit peels and other waste sit nearby. After grinding the material, several time-consuming processing stages follow, including the addition of local fertile soil, known as Shahrzour soil.

So far, Sima has received three tons of pomegranate peels from factories, as well as waste from olive oil presses. "At the end of the whole process, we receive 1,000 kg of compost from one ton of fruit peels," she explains. She attempts to sell the fertilizer to nurseries like the one owned by Khansa Majed, 34. "I tried Sima’s fertilizer for a while and found that it is good. Now I encourage my customers to use organic fertilizer in their gardens," Khansa says. The selling price is 3,000 IQD (around 2 USD).

Though the scale of Sima’s production is small compared to the vast agricultural output in Halabja, her efforts are a start. Official statistics show that Halabja province is home to 40,000 walnut trees and produces 40 tons of pomegranates annually, most of which are processed into juice and jam. The region also presses 250 tons of olives into oil, yet all the waste is discarded. This is not unique to Halabja; around the world, it is estimated that 17 percent of food, including fruits and vegetables, ends up as waste. This is why the United Nations advocates for composting food waste as one of the most effective methods for combating environmental pollution.

In Halabja, the overwhelming majority of farmers, like Mahmoud Qader (59), continue to use chemical fertilizers. As he prepares his tomato plants for spring, laying nylon to protect them from the cold, he points to a white pile of fertilizer. "There is more in the truck, ready to be poured into the soil," he says. Qader purchased Tunisian chemical fertilizer at 1,250 dinars per kilogram (less than one dollar). "Because of the high price, I can only afford 1.5 tons for 20 dunams," he says. If prices were lower, he would use more than double that amount.

Qader is unaware of research that shows the benefits of organic fertilizers. For example, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that animal dung and other natural fertilizers strengthen soil, enriching it with phosphorus and other nutrients.

Environmental expert Yerevan Mohamed, who holds a bachelor’s degree in soil science, says, "If farmers use organic fertilizers for two consecutive years, they will achieve the same yield as with chemical fertilizers, but without harming the soil and water."

Even though many farmers, like Qader, are not illiterate and have heard of the benefits of organic fertilizers, most do not ask for them. "They simply do not believe in it," says Didar Qaisar, 28, a seed and fertilizer seller in Halabja.

Despite the lack of significant action from the Kurdistan Region authorities, individuals like Dr. Muslim Suleiman are raising awareness about the dangers of chemical fertilizers. As a university lecturer specializing in the effects of fertilizers on plants and a doctoral student researching plant-related topics, he is deeply concerned about the environment and public health. Through his social media platforms and collaborations with various organizations, he educates farmers on the risks of chemical fertilizers and advocates for organic alternatives. "Our biggest concern is the lack of knowledge," he says. He conducts educational seminars explaining how long-term use of chemical fertilizers can degrade soil fertility and harm human health.

Sima faces the challenge of overcoming people’s ignorance as well. But instead of backing down, she is determined to consolidate and expand her small enterprise. So far, she has employed two male workers and is in talks with two women who might join her team. She is also considering investing in technology. "With a really good grinding machine, we could work much more effectively," she says. Additionally, she is experimenting with a mixture of animal dung, water, and other natural materials to create a more sustainable organic fertilizer.

With many ideas and plans to overcome doubts and obstacles, Sima smiles confidently. "I have never given up, and I won’t give up." Her determination sounds persuasive.