Seeds of Hope

Iraqi farmers are planting U.S. wheat and barley varieties that may help improve Iraq’s self-sufficiency in producing food

Known as the “Cradle of Civilization,” Iraq is a country filled with a rich history that stretches to the dawn of mankind. Six thousand years ago, the place known today as Iraq was Mesopotamia, which rose along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The principles of law, trade, and writing were all invented here.

Agriculture has its origins here as well. Modern scientists have conducted carbon-14 testing on plant and animal remains, tracing the first domesticated sheep to northern Iraq in 9,000 B.C. Domesticated wheat is believed to have originated around 8,000 B.C. in the Fertile Crescent, an area that crosses modern day Iraq, Iran and Jordan. By 4,000 B.C., Iraqi farmers had developed complex irrigation systems and enjoyed the first agricultural surplus in history, harvesting grain three times a year and cultivating plump fruit.

From the Kurdish Region of northern Iraq, this Iraqi farmer once plowed fertile soil and enjoyed his job. But during Saddam Hussein’s rule, the farmer was forced to leave his farm just because of his ethnicity. Today, he works with Multinational Forces as a truck driver. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. R. Fred Minnick)

Now, thousands of years since agriculture’s innovative beginnings here, Iraqi agriculture is no longer center stage. In fact, the latest generation of Iraqi farmers has struggled.

Northern Iraq: wheat production a “high priority”
Vast desert swallows most of Iraq, and in the southern and central provinces, the fine sand leaves little nutrients for farmers to plant crops. However, in northern Iraq, the soil is predominately a sandy loam, rich with nutrients.

The landscape in the north is filled with green grass, deciduous and coniferous trees, and an abundance of cash crops, such as wheat and barley . The lush vegetation in northern Iraq gives opportunities for livestock producers as well.

In a country where only 13% of the land is arable, northern Iraq would seem to be the production oasis. Over the last 30 years, the area has accounted for more than half of Iraq’s wheat and barley production. Two universities in northern Iraq – Dahuk University and Mosul University – both offer degrees in agriculture. Despite the region’s potential to become one of the most productive agricultural areas in the Middle East, it still has its downfalls, most of which was inflicted by decisions made by the former regime.

However, even before Saddam Hussein took control of the country in 1979, regulations were emplaced that hurt farmers. Large farms were broken up during nationalization in 1971. The government made a rule that no farmer could own more than 250 hectares (about 620 acres) causing many of the farmers in the north to lose their land.

Lt. Col. John Maxwell handing over five bags of wheat and barley seed last fall in Mosul, Iraq.  Donated by three U.S. universities and a private American company, the seed from modern U.S. cultivars will help Iraqi farmers propagate grain in a domestic grain production environment that during the past decade of Saddam Hussein’s rule has fallen well short of production needed to meet demand. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron Ritter)

In addition, northern Iraq is home to millions of Kurds, many of whom tended crops and livestock. Throughout Saddam’s tenure, he disbanded Kurds from the area and turned much of their land over to Arabs or members of the Ba’ath party.

During the last 10 years of the Saddam Hussein regime, farmers were required to grow continuous wheat crops every season, never leaving their fields fallow. Farmers didn’t bring in new crop species or use proper crop rotations, which depleted the quality and quantity of the wheat harvests.  The result of Saddam’s 10-year mandate was a severe drop off in wheat yields and increased susceptibility to fungus and disease, especially Karnal bunt. 

Consequently, this region has not been able to keep up with Iraq’s wheat demand.  Since flat bread is a staple in the Iraqi diet, the decrease in crop production, especially wheat, not only affected their economy (agriculture accounts for 50% of northern Iraq’s gross domestic product) it made feeding their families harder. As the supply of wheat became short, the price of bread and flour increased and poorer families struggled to make a living – more than 60% of the Iraqi populace is unemployed, according to 2004 statistics from the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

In 1995, the United Nations created the Oil for Food Program, which allowed Iraq to sell specified quantities of oil and use the money to purchase food and humanitarian goods while under economic sanctions. But the effort reportedly was undermined while Hussein was in power by bribery, corruption and misappropriation of funds. Thus, despite this program, in 2002, one in four children were malnourished and 65% of the population –16 million people – relied exclusively on the government for their food.

American bulldozers pushing Iraqi earth in northern Iraq to form a berm at an ammo supply point, to help prevent children and terrorists from walking into the supply point and stealing weapons. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jessika Ross)

Then came the United States of America, the country whose agriculture is now one of the world’s most advanced. The U.S. Government’s support of Iraqi agriculture actually dates back to 1952, when the University of Arizona helped establish the College of Agriculture at the University of Baghdad. Now, half a century later, Multinational Forces led by Americans are rebuilding Iraq’s security, infrastructure and governance – and rebuilding the country’s agriculture.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman met with several farmers of northern Iraq. After seeing the region’s potential , she recommended that Iraqi provincial ministers of agriculture prioritize needs and take action, offering the full cooperation of the United States.

The agricultural leaders classified wheat production in northern Iraq as a high priority.

Cooperation to help Iraqi wheat farmers
Thousands of miles away from the Middle East, three U.S. universities and a private ag research company set out to improve the wheat situation in northern Iraq. Working with the U.S. Army, officials from Texas A&M University, Kansas State University, Colorado State University and the Arizona-based World Wide Wheat Company began to look at U.S. wheat varieties that could survive the intense heat and arid climate of Iraq.

The cooperation began when Maj. Mike Fitzgerald, an A&M alum stationed in northern Iraq, contacted one of his former professors about helping Iraq’s wheat farmers. Belonging to one of the country’s most historical military universities – A&M fields the largest ROTC program and commissions hundreds of military officers each year – the Texas A&M professors were anxious to help.

During a combat training exercise, Iraqi soldiers practice clearing a room in Mosul, Iraq. These four soldiers moved through the built-up facility, firing at targets, in preparation for a major raid they’d conduct later that night. Even though Multinational Forces continue to pump money into rebuilding Iraqi schools, hospitals and other infrastructure, security remains the top priority. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Fred Minnick)

A&M officials began to consult with others, to find appropriate wheat that might thrive in this climate. After months of research, the scientists from TAMU, KSU, CSU and WWW selected a mix of wheat and barley lines that could theoretically survive in Iraq.  “We selected several cultivars adapted to varied production methods and end use qualities, not knowing the specifics of Iraq production as to soils, rainfall and or irrigation,” said Rex Thompson, a researcher at WWW.

The crop scientists chose a variety of cultivars adaptable to Iraq’s climate from plants originating from WWW and greenhouses in Arizona and KSU:

D5317B: A durum wheat that is an improved selection from the cultivar Reva, which has had a good share of the desert durum identity preserved market for several years because of its excellent pasta and semolina quality. Best results with this variety are expected when grown under irrigation with adequate fertilizer.

DOI942: A durum wheat selected under low input growing conditions that would perform well under low rainfall conditions without irrigation.

D6558: A durum wheat that produces high yields when grown under irrigation with adequate fertilizer.

DOI920A: Durum wheat with excellent gluten strength and protein quality, with best results under rainfed conditions.

BR9246: A hard red spring wheat with a protein content and quality gluten balance to make a good loaf of bread; an excellent yielder under irrigation that is also competitive under lower input and/or rainfed conditions.

BR5144A: A hard red spring wheat selection from a line which has a long record of adaptability to Arizona and Southern California, both irrigated and non-irrigated. It has the protein gluten balance necessary for a good loaf of bread, with excellent yield that can be expected with adequate moisture, irrigated or rainfed.

BR4779: A hard red spring wheat selection with good flour quality, high protein and very strong gluten, recommended for production under irrigation or considerable rainfall areas with adequate nitrogen fertilization.

Jagger wheat: An early maturing hard red winter wheat variety from KSU with moderate to good yield potential under dryland conditions. Currently, the most popular variety in Oklahoma.

BOI182: An early 6-row feed barley selected under low input growing conditions.

BA2391: An early 6-row feed barley that responds well to additional water and nitrogen fertilizer, with adequate rainfall or limited irrigation suggested for best results.

Otis Barley: A two-row, early maturing feed variety. It tillers prolifically, has heavy bushel weight and is adapted to dryland conditions.

Once the research was completed and varieties selected, the team began to coordinate the seeds’ movement to northern Iraq. Travis Trant, of A&M’s International Office of Agriculture Program, worked with Lt. Col. John Maxwell, food and agriculture team leader for the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army National Guard unit from Pennsylvania, to ensure that the 1,000 pounds of seed would make the journey to Mosul, Iraq, the largest city in northern Iraq and the seat of governance for the Ninevah Province. The Ninevah Province is considered to be the wheat belt of Iraq, producing about half of the country’s wheat needs.

In Tal Afar last August, 1st Lt. William Baynes and an Iraqi National Guard officer climbing a steep hill. The Iraqi Security forces and Multinational Forces were conducting offensive operations in the city, which was a suspected terrorist haven. While Americans continue to rebuild the infrastructure and government of Iraq, the priority remains security. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. R. Fred Minnick)

Dr. Abdulsattar Jassim, the Director General of Agriculture for the Ninevah Province, said he considered the seeds a gift from America and that his team of specialists will test and analyze the cultivars.

“Sample plots of soil throughout the region will be used to test the results of the cultivars’ exposure to diverse weather, water amounts, fertilizer and types of soil,” Jassim said. “That way, we can see which type of wheat is most compatible with which area.”

Maxwell handed over the seeds to Jassim last fall. “Some seeds will do well and some won’t, which is why we brought in such a large variety,” Maxwell said. “But if they can grow a field of a variety, those seeds become more of a foundation seed that can then become a variety of wheat that can be multiplied. This project will have slight impact in the next year’s wheat production. We will really see the impact in about two years after the farmers have had a chance to see which seeds fare the best.  With proper management, these wheat variants will definitely make a difference for the better for Iraq’s wheat production.”

Jassim and his team will plant the cultivars soon, in cooperation with area farmers. Maxwell has since redeployed to the United States, but handed over the project to Soldiers from the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion.

As the Iraqis move forward with the wheat seeds project, Multinational Forces will provide assistance to the Iraqis and feedback to the researchers . However, although Multinational Forces continue to rebuild schools, hospitals and roads, civil affairs operations – like the wheat and barley seed donation – take a backseat to security, particularly with Iraq’s Jan. 30 elections drawing near.

The long-term security forces and local government officials are committed to bringing stability and security back to Mosul. The Iraqi soldiers and Multinational Forces continue to maintain an offensive mindset, capturing and detaining insurgents seeking to disrupt operations and Iraq’s first free elections in 40 years.

A step closer to food security
Iraq’s agriculture and infrastructure are better than a year ago. Ancient buildings and ruins have been rebuilt, and for the first time in decades, the farmers of northern Iraq have hope.  While 20 bags of wheat and barley seed may not seem like much, the improved genetics – along with a return to better farming practices – bring the Iraqi farmers one step closer to a more sustainable, self-sufficient agricultural system, able to produce enough grain to help meet the country’s demand for bread and grain foods.

“Iraqi farmers are dedicated,” Jassim said. “The future of this country is dependent upon security, and that’s not really something the farmers can contribute to. But they support the new government and this country’s future, because a free Iraq means they can till their soil without unlawful restrictions – something we didn’t have under Saddam. We know that farming is important to our economy. We face many challenges ahead, but our farmers are positive and I have confidence we will prevail.”  

A UH 60 Black Hawk on a field in northern Iraq.

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R. Fred Minnick has been serving for about a year as a member of the 139 Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, a split-state National Guard unit from Wisconsin and Illinois. A native of Oklahoma, Minnick has an ag background and prior to packing his bags for the desert, he worked for a PR agency, writing primarily about forestry herbicides.

Even for those like Minnick who are chronicling the rebuilding efforts in Iraq, safety is a constant concern. “It’s a different world here and if you’re not careful and alert, you could find yourself in a box. We have all had extremely close calls,” he says, about his unit. “I’ve had about three, but know I have many people praying for me and plenty of Guardian Angels hovering over above.”

Minnick, scheduled to return back to the U.S. in early 2005, says farmers cooperating in the wheat and barley seed project did not want to be photographed, for security reasons.  “Any time an Iraqi is seen with us, he or she takes a risk. The terrorists hide and watch, and then later capture the Iraqi who was seen with us. And then, I think you have a good idea of what happens next. I spend most of my time with the infantry, so I also get to witness and write stories about the capture of these bad guys,” he relates.