Photo By Sgt. David Turner | A young Iraqi unpacks chicks in Hawr Rajab May 6, 2008. Funds from the Baghdad-7...... read more read more
By Spc. Josh LeCappelain
Multi-National Division-Center Public Affairs Office
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – For many Iraqis, hope comes in one form: less than a foot tall, full of feathers and sounds of "peeps."
What once was a vibrant, thriving way of life – chicken farming – took a "fowl" turn prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Insurgents took over chicken coops and pens, using them as weapon cache dumps and safe houses. They were allowed to fall into disrepair; important pieces of equipment, such as generators and water pumps, were often stolen. Al Qaida even threatened employees of chicken farms, convincing them to quit their jobs.
"At one time, prior to [OIF], the poultry industry was one of the largest employers in Iraq," said Maj. Freddie Zink, Multi-National Division – Center veterinarian. "Because of the circumstances surrounding Iraq, there are problems with getting the chicks – as well as the bigger problem of getting feed. Farmers can't make a living on the way things [have been]."
Today, areas such as Hawr Rajab, Arab Jabour and Adwaniyah, to name a few, have seen such advancements in security and stability, the chicken industry can once again thrive.
Plans are in the formative stages for a feed mill in the Babil area, which would greatly increase the capability of farmer's in the south-central Iraq region, said Zink, a native of Piedmont, S.C.
"As soon as we get the feed situation taken care of, the poultry situation will bounce back on its own," he explained.
In April, 15,000 chicks were bought for Adwaniyah chicken factories, using the Commander's Emergency Relief Program and U.S. Department of State funds, as well as contributions from former factory owners. The chickens, as well as supplies needed to renovate the factories, were purchased from Baghdad vendors.
Hawr Rajab received a similar boost in May, as Soldiers from 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment and the Baghdad-7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team distributed 13,000 chicks to 10 farmers in the region.
Mike Stevens, the ePRT agricultural advisor, said area farmers had to purchase eggs and meat from Baghdad markets, at an inflated cost. Thanks to the delivery, Hawr Rajab residents could look forward to lower costs, as well as job opportunities. Stevens estimated the delivery would create 40 jobs in the region.
The ePRT also helped form farmers' unions, designed to strengthen the farmers' relationship with their government.
"This is all part of the membership drive that began with seed and plastic distribution," Stevens said. "It's a way of encouraging locals to pay dues to get into the farmers union."
Later in May, Mahmudiyah saw nearly 33,000 day-old chicks prepared for delivery to chicken farms following a 21-day incubation period.
"After eight to nine months of planning, this is the first step where all the chicken farmers see live chickens getting put into the entire chicken industry," said Capt. Benjamin Neusse, civil military operations officer for 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Workers diligently worked numerous hours preparing the chicks for distribution, in trays of 100.
"In about 45 days, they'll grow to a couple [of] pounds each and they'll go off to the market. This should hopefully create a nice market for fresh, Iraqi-grown chickens," Neusse added.
In August, 5,000 more chickens were distributed to six chicken farms in the Mahmudiyah Qada, and 18 more area chicken farms are scheduled to receive additional chicks throughout August and September.
The chick distribution provides more than an income to area farmers; the process also installs a structure of stability where Iraqis can lead the industry themselves in the future – one chicken at a time.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2008 23:15 |
| Story ID: | 22287 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 68 |
This work, Chicken growth leads to Iraqi stability, by SPC Josh Lecappelain, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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