'Bayonet' Soldiers help Fedaliyah farmers feed water buffalo

Photo By Staff Sgt. Lyndsey Prax | A local farmer from the Fedaliyah area of New Baghdad herds his jammous into the Diyala River to cool off Sept. 2, 2008. Jammous are large domesticated water buffalo used by locals primarily for meat and milk. Approximately, 10 percent of the jammous population in Iraq resides in Fedaliyah.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.10.2008

Story by Pfc. Lyndsey Prax 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

By Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
Multi-National Division-Baghdad Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Agriculture began more than 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East. Today it is still a primary economic activity of the people of Iraq.

While many U.S. commanders at every level focus on electricity and sewer improvements throughout the city of Baghdad, Capt. David Bestow, a native of Nedford, Ore., commander of Company B "Bayonets," 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, is focused on helping the farmers of Fedaliyah in the New Baghdad area feed their jammous – Arabic pronunciation for domesticated water buffalo – used by locals primarily for milk and meat.

Fedaliyah is an agricultural village on the outskirts of eastern Baghdad consisting of more than 1,500 jammous herders and 20,000 head of water buffalo, approximately ten percent of the total jammous population in Iraq.

Since Iraq began the transition from a controlled market to a free market in 2003, the farmers in Fedaliyah have faced many problems obtaining feed for their livestock, said Bestow. Many of the residents have surrendered their lives as farmers, sold their jammous to purchase trucks, and began completely new lifestyles.

"These people have spent most of their lives at home with their families, taking their herds to and from the Diyala River twice a day for a bath while their kids follow along," said Bestow. "Because of the feed problems, they are being forced to turn to the trucking industry and a lifestyle on the road away from their families, transporting grain and food rations."

"This is not only an economical issue; it's a complete change in their way of life. They are used to having low services and no electricity, and they're content this way," he said.

When the Bayonets took responsibility of the area in March, militia groups had a strong influence on the residents of the city and security was anything but stable.

"The main road into the city was lined with explosively-formed projectiles on both sides," said Staff Sgt. Alan Jones, a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, Co. B, 1st Bn., 66th Armor Regt. "Every time we'd attempt to go in, a vehicle would get hit and we'd get ambushed."

Since then, the Soldiers have acted to improve the security of Fedaliyah to include placing barriers along the roads to reduce the ability of emplacing EFPs and other improvised explosive devices.

"Due to a number of factors, things went from night to day quickly and many of the higher influencing individuals fled the city," said Bestow.

One of the first missions conducted by the Bayonets when they entered the city was a population survey.

Each platoon was assigned an area. They went door-to-door meeting the people and getting to know them. They asked them what essential services they had and what they were deficient in, Bestow said.

"One of the main issues brought up by the people was the jammous feed problem."

With the help of his fellow Soldiers, Bestow instantly began researching jammous—how much they eat, how much they cost to feed—and contacted the proper authorities and individuals who need to be involved in order to resolve the issue.

"We contacted provincial reconstruction team representatives, explained the issue and brought them out here so they can see for themselves," Bestow explained. "We have also arranged meetings with the ministry of agriculture, the ministry of trade, and some of the farmers in the area."

The first day the PRT members were in Fedaliyah, the Soldiers escorted them down to the shores of the Diyala River where the jammous cool off. One of the members was approached by a 12-year-old boy who immediately asked him if there was anything they could do to help with the feed problem, Bestow said.

"Seeing a 12-year-old herder express so much interest showed how important this issue is to the [residents of Fedaliyah]," he said. "The PRT members seemed very excited about resolving this issue."

"I think we are making headway by getting the right people to meet [each other]," said Bestow.

While this may be a small step in improving the infrastructure of Iraq, it is a substantial development for the residents of Fedaliyah whose lives depend on the water buffalo.

• Date Taken: 09.10.2008
• Date Posted: 09.10.2008 04:48
• Story ID: 23440
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ