Fourth National Walnut Festival draws tourists to Kolowr
The fourth National Walnut Festival was held in Kolowr town, the center of Shahrud District in Khalkhal, with tourists from various provinces, producers and local residents attending the event, which aimed to promote the area’s agricultural and tourism attractions.
According to IRNA, the mayor of Kolowr said the festival had received a warm welcome from visitors from Gilan, Zanjan, Ardabil, East Azarbaijan, Tehran and Alborz provinces.
Morteza Motahari added that, following years of efforts, the festival was included in the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts’ national events calendar in 2024, turning Kolowr into a hub for cultural exchange among different ethnic groups.
He said specialized exhibition booths and the introduction of local artists provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the area’s natural and historical attractions and promote ecotourism in the ancient Shahrud region.
The representative of Khalkhal and Kowsar in the Parliament also described the festival as an important step toward introducing the southern parts of Ardabil Province and their attractions.
Vahid Kan’ani said the region’s natural resources and potential had not been adequately promoted. He stressed the need to develop infrastructure and attract investors to make better use of the agricultural and tourism potential of Khalkhal and Kowsar.
The head of Khalkhal’s Agricultural Jihad Department announced that more than 3,500 tons of walnuts had been harvested from Khalkhal’s productive orchards this year. Hassan Nourmohammadi said Khalkhal produces 60 percent of Ardabil Province’s walnuts, with an average yield of 2.5 tons per hectare.
He identified annual rejuvenation pruning and top-working of approximately 50 hectares of old trees, the replacement of existing trees with varieties resistant to cold and drought, and the expansion of more than 100 hectares of grafted orchards as key measures to sustain and increase walnut production in the region.
The festival featured local music and performances, along with 25 booths offering various walnut varieties, orchard products, organic rural produce, traditional breads and sweets, and handicrafts.