Exemplary Farmers' Perceptions of Farm Management in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq

In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, cognitive, cultural, and entrepreneurial factors affect the farm decision-making and sustainable practices of exemplary farmers. The research used qualitative methodologies and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight exemplary farmers from (KEFO) organization in Erbil, Duhok, Sulaimani, and Halabja to clarify the impact of strategic planning, supervision, and emotional commitment on their management practices. The results show that farmers perceive farming as both a way of life and a business that requires planning, organisation, and adaptability. Their concepts are in line with worldwide trends that support entrepreneurial resilience and strategic leadership. Good farmers also know how to mix traditional knowledge and cultural identity with market adaptability and systematic management. This makes them local leaders and innovators who show others how to execute their work by setting an example and showing them the best ways to do things. The study states that in order to improve farm management in transitional agricultural economies like Kurdistan, individual experiences need to be connected with policy and institutional aid to encourage sustainability, diversity, and resilience in rural areas.