Photo By Staff Sgt. Russell Klika | A farmer at the market place near Sadr City, Iraq.... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD, Iraq (May 01, 2006) - As planting season approaches, farmers outside of Baghdad, Iraq, are learning the true meaning of cooperation with a little help from Coalition forces.
Members of the 445th Civil Affairs Battalion are currently working to continue a farmer's co-op in the Mada-In district that began over two years ago when previous Civil Affairs units procured tractors and land for the co-op. The benefits of this program will be seen this season by farmers all over the district.
The long term, non-profit project has culminated with the addition of seed and implements for the local agrarians.
"When up and running, the cooperative will benefit about twenty thousand people," says Maj. Deborah Yarbrough, a Civil Affairs team leader from Memphis, Tenn. "Even if the people are not directly involved in farming the land, they are either buying or selling the products."
The co-ops" headquarters building was constructed on an old Saddam-era military complex.
"We have a written contract with the Department of Agriculture that states if we build the building they will not take it away from the farmers," Yarborough explains.
After the building was complete, the next step was to get the farmers equipment to plow the fields. The equipment included tractors and plows that the co-op rents out to the farmers for about five thousand dinar an hour (about $3.56 US dollars). Once the fields are plowed, the planting process begins.
This season the farmers will be planting corn, tomatos, okra, sesame seed and tons of watermelon. They will also be planting a corn like maize for the animals. The co-op sells the seed to the farmers at slightly less than market value but makes up the difference by renting out the tractor implements.
"Farmers like to farm. We are putting a lot of people back to work. By doing this, chances are they will not join the insurgency. Right now in this area, joining the bad guys is the only source of money," said Yarbrough. "These people need to feed their families. By starting this project, we are hoping that when they see things that are not right, they may call one of the many collation hotlines to report suspicious activity."
Everyone benefits. With one final check of the equipment and seed, making sure everything is in working order, Yarbrough and her team gets out of the farmer's hair, anxious to leave the site and let them get back to the business of feeding families.
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2006 10:29 |
| Story ID: | 6419 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 137 |
This work, Co-op Brings New Hope to Local Iraqi Farmers, by SSG Russell Klika, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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