New tractors to Radwaniyah farmers

Courtesy Photo | Sheik Ayad walks in front of the Farmer's Association building during a ceremony held to celebrate the donation of 20 new tractors to the association on March 6. The tractors were part of an Multi-National Division - Baghdad project to assist the Radwiniyah farmers and were funded by the Commanders' Emergency Response Program. Soldiers from the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, presented the tractors to the Radwiniyah Farmer's Association.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

03.06.2009

Courtesy Story

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

BAGHDAD – Local sheiks, Radwaniyah Farmer's Association members, and Soldiers from the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, attended a tractor delivery ceremony held by the Farmer's Association in Radwaniyah, March 6.

The funds for the purchase of twenty tractors, totaling $496,500, were provided by the Multi-National Divison - Baghdad Commander's Emergency Response Program. The tractors were given to the Farmer's Association where they will be available for rent by the local farmers in the Radwaniyah area. The area was chosen due to its central location to other villages.

"This site was picked so there would be no argument if it was put in just one village because it is centrally located," said Sgt. 1st Class Eric McCoy, of Middletown, N.J., Company D, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion.

Soldiers from the civil affairs battalion have been working on these and other projects in the Radwaniyah area for a long period of time, and continue to work with the people of Radwaniyah on other improvements.

"It has taken seven months to get all of the Iraqi agencies to sign off on this project, and to commit the support when it is all finished," said McCoy.

Throughout the project, MND-B Soldiers and Iraqi security forces have played a large role in keeping the area safe for the people in Radwaniyah. The amount of attacks in the area has dropped dramatically over the past year which has allowed the people in the area to move ahead with essential services and allow Iraqis to provide for their families. This has allowed the people to improve their quality of life and have a sense that things are returning to normal.

"This was a great thing that was done for the people of Radwaniyah. It shows the great work that can be done with the help of the coalition forces, the Sons of Iraq, the Iraqi police and the Iraqi army by bringing security into the area so more things can be done safely," said Sheik Ayad.

Not only was the event a celebration of the tractors being given to the Farmers Association, it also included the ground-breaking ceremony for the newly constructed Neighborhood Council building.
When the entire project is completed, there will be three buildings in the complex: the Neighborhood Council building, the Farmer's Association building and a free medical clinic for people of the Radwaniyah area.

A large private bank in Baghdad, with branches all over the Middle East, heard about the new complex and committed to building a branch next to the other new buildings. A small supermarket is also scheduled to be built along with these other buildings in the future. This progress in restoring essential services illustrates how the Radwaniyah area is returning to normal.

"This will be a central hub, the start of a town center for the people to go to when they have problems, and it is a great thing for the people of Radwaniyah," said McCoy.

The area has seen great gains in security as well as major infrastructure improvements.

"For years, security was poor in this area and nothing was getting done. Canals were drying up, crops were non-existent, the schools were falling apart and there was no fresh drinking water," McCoy said. "Within the past nine months we've had great security thanks to the Iraqi police, the Sons of Iraq, the Iraqi army and the leaders of Radwaniyah. We have fixed the schools; there are new water treatment facilities to provide clean drinking water."

"We have fixed most of the canal problems and water is flowing. The area is greening up with produce and this makes the people very happy since now they can better feed their families," added McCoy.

The 20 TAFE 5900 tractors, along with five canal openers, five tillers, five carts, and five disks, came from India, where Sheik Ayad's engineer inspected them before they were donated. The Farmer's Association was pleased that replacement parts for these particular tractors are easily obtained at local stores.

The tractors will be available for rent from the Farmers Association by local farmers and should assist greatly in cultivating the area. The rent will cost less than it would elsewhere, so the farmers will have more money to buy more seed and produce more crops to sell on their own at the markets. The farmers in the area are very pleased with what is happening in Radwaniyah.

"We as civil affairs and coalition forces have set these people on a road and have provided them a map. They know how to follow it, and are doing a great job. They know it's time for them to take the lead on getting things done in their area," said McCoy. "With the direction we have provided they are currently working with their government, and ministries to solve problems that have been arising and will continue to work with them in the future."

• Date Taken: 03.06.2009
• Date Posted: 03.10.2009 09:52
• Story ID: 30948
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ