Farmers union focuses on revitalization

Photo By Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky | Mike Stevens, right, Baghdad-7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team agricultural adviser, and Silvia Bibi, second from right, ePRT bilingual, bicultural adviser, meet with Sayifiyah landowners before their third farmers union meeting, Feb. 28, at Patrol Base Whitehouse.  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

02.28.2008

Story by Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky 

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

Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Sixteen prominent Sayifiyah landowners gathered with members of the Baghdad-7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team at Patrol Base Whitehouse in Sayifiyah, Feb. 28, for a farmers union meeting.

As security returns to the region, coalition forces are focusing on restoring the agriculturally-based economy in Sayifiyah. Efforts include reviving the poultry and beekeeping industries, increasing the productivity of vegetable farms and creating new industries like fish farming and chicken processing plants.

All of these efforts were discussed at the meeting, the farmers union's third gathering.

"We're here to restore the area to the farming community it once was," said Mike Stevens, from Alexandria, Minn., ePRT agricultural adviser.

Enough seeds for 350 farmers were distributed to eight of the landowners whose primary business is vegetable farming. Tomato, cucumber, green pepper and eggplant seeds imported from Turkey and Spain will be given to the numerous farmers who work the fields, Stevens said.

He called it a self-starter, self-sustainability package that will help farmers gain bigger returns on their produce since the ePRT absorbs the initial cost of jumpstarting production.

Stevens said future investments will target the top five areas of need in the region: vegetables, poultry, irrigation, veterinarian services and herds of cattle and sheep.

A key point underlying the initiatives is increased profits for farmers. Under Saddam Hussein's reign, Stevens said, farmers would receive supplies from the government to run their farms. In return, they owed the government up to 50 percent of their crops.

Now, under a democratic system of government, farmers will have the power to keep all their produce and set their own prices and areas of market. This will eventually strengthen the economy by allowing farmers to bring in more money.

Stevens said he hopes to build a strong farmers union, so they can pool profits to buy goods and services such as more seeds, animals and machinery.

Towards this end, part of the meeting focused on teaching the landowners democratic and capitalistic concepts. They were also encouraged to discuss their own issues to help work out solutions amongst themselves and the ePRT.

Some issues raised were repairing and procuring more tractors and distributing pesticides to kill insects that damage citrus trees.

Stevens reiterated the need for the farmers to work together and take advantage of the zero start-up cost being offered by coalition programs to increase their collective profits.

Signs of progress are already materializing. Fadil Fawaz Hamed and other landowners have begun work to strengthen productivity. Hamed has 124 farmers working his vegetable farms.

"It is about strength in numbers," Stevens said. Working as a group, the farmers can reduce the cost burden of fixing problems and collectively enjoy the benefits of solutions.

In the meantime, the group is focused on existing structures and restoring them to their former pre-war production levels before leaning into new ventures.

"We're off to a good start," Stevens said. "We can't provide everything, but if people can work together we can promise to work hard to help them achieve their goals."

• Date Taken: 02.28.2008
• Date Posted: 03.02.2008 14:02
• Story ID: 16912
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ