5-7 Cav. Regt., ePRT look to help Sayifiyah farmers

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Jason Stadel | John Smith, Baghdad 7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team chief, meets with Sayifiyah sheiks to discuss the future of farming in the area, Feb. 14.  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

02.18.2008

Story by Sgt. Jason Stadel 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. Jason Stadel
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – After clearing their community of al-Qaida in Iraq, Sayifiyah residents are focusing their efforts on building an agriculturally-based economy.

The first step towards an economic boost occurred, Feb. 14, when members of the Baghdad 7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team met with coalition forces and area sheiks to discuss the community's needs.

Sayifiyah has seen little coalition presence in the past two years. Extremists had some presence in the area but terrain features helped ward off extremist groups. The community sits along the banks of the Tigris River, about 20 kilometers south of Baghdad. In addition to the river, the community is bordered by large canals making the area difficult to traverse.

During Operation Marne Thunderbolt, a Multi-National Division - Center effort designed to eradicate extremist strongholds, the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division moved from Fallujah and Ramadi into Sayifiyah to assist the 2nd BCT conducting operations. Marne Thunderbolt lasted from the beginning of January to mid-February.

The squadron saw little resistance from AQI and other extremists groups. That allowed the 5-7th Cav. Regt. to secure the area and focus on reconstruction and the economy.

With improved security, the Baghdad 7 ePRT and 5-7 Cav. Regt. discussed the basic needs for Sayifiyah. Citizens' needs in Fallujah and Ramadi are much different than in Sayifiyah.

"We dealt with the PRT in Fallujah but we dealt mostly with industry," said Lt. Col. Clifford Wheeler, 5-7th Cav. Regt. commander. "There is no industry here; they're all farmers."

The area farming is not solely profit-based. Farmers in the area sell what they can and use the rest to support their families, said Mike Stevens, the ePRT agriculture adviser.

"I was amazed at how little they depend on industry; they are very self-sufficient," he said.

While farming in Sayifiyah has not flourished in recent years, it is by no means non-existent. Orchards along the river grow oranges, apricots and peaches. Stevens said farmers purchase seeds and other farming supplies on the black market, which kept the fields growing crops. However, expensive black market prices have slowed production.

"They can definitely use our help," Stevens said. "Hopefully it will only be initial help. We can get them some seed and plastic and help them get their union going."

After meeting with Wheeler, Stevens and the rest of the ePRT met farmers from Sayifiyah and informed them of the resources available. There are nine areas in which the ePRT agriculture section provides assistance: crop production, poultry, irrigation, fish production, agriculture markets, veterinary services, cattle, honey production and sheep.

The development of an agriculture union will help boost production and enable the farmers to sell more of their products.

A poultry processing plant was also discussed. The sheiks said if their community had a processing plant more products could be shipped to Baghdad.

Stevens said a processing plant could be built using ePRT funds allocated for reconstruction. "Giving them these types of funds to build are the kinds of ways we can help," he said.

• Date Taken: 02.18.2008
• Date Posted: 02.18.2008 12:40
• Story ID: 16470
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ