Photo By Michael Molinaro | Sheik Emad Mohammed voices the concerns and needs of the farmers of his tribe at a...... read more read more
FOB KALSU, Iraq " Farmers from the northern Babil province met with members of the Nahia city council Saturday at the General Culture Center in Iskandariyah.
Democracy was in full swing as the local farming community requested the meeting to discuss ways of re-implementing a co-op program with farmers" unions throughout the region.
"The unions will act as liaisons between farmers and the Nahia council and Ministry of Agriculture," said Lt. Col. James Howard, commander, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Members of the MOA and Irrigation Department were on hand to hear the concerns and appeals of the community. The Nahia city council represents residents of Iskandariyah, Haswah, and Hateen Apartments.
Under the previous regime, the co-op program flourished between farmers" unions, allowing farmers throughout southern Iraq to resource among themselves and produce significant profits, said Capt. Carlos Badillo, information officer, 2-8 Inf. If one farmer was low on seed and another was in need of a combine, through the farmer's unions they would be able to help each other out. Things changed after the fall of the regime, and there is a sense of urgency to get the program up and running once again.
"Coalition Forces handed out items to my villagers," said Sheik Emad Mohammed Tlall Al-Gurtani. "Where was the government? How come they haven't helped yet? Our elected leaders need to start helping their own people before we are all out of work."
Farmers are not asking for large projects from the MOA, just long-term support, said one sheik in attendance. Farmers expressed a desire to the MOA to sustain them in their quest for newer farm equipment, a program to spray insecticides, and alleviating the cost of fertilizer.
"The price of fertilizer has skyrocketed," he said. "If we don't get any help, then a lot of us will be out of business."
The union will happen, said Sebah Khafaji, city council president. Groundbreaking is scheduled very soon for a new union building and a new water pump to facilitate irrigation in the area.
The local government has been feverishly attempting to gain the attention of the MOA, he continued. He said he felt their presence at the meeting was a positive sign that the farmers of the region had been heard and soon another step towards improving the economy of Iskandariyah and surrounding areas would transpire.
This was a good first step in the process, said Howard. Everybody is committed to standing up the agricultural co-ops and seeing the local economy blossom. Soon, it will become reality.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2006 12:35 |
| Story ID: | 6315 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 49 |
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