Summary:

The USAID funded Support to Traditional Cultural Practices in Northern Iraq project is studying the challenges of the agricultural and food sector as it seeks solutions for tomorrow. This project covers field crops, animal production, and extension systems important to the ethnic and religious minorities in the Nineveh Plains region. A literature review and stakeholder interviews have guided strategies. The objective is to study the challenges of the agricultural sector including field crops, animal production, and extension in the Nineveh plains region after ISIS liberation. Nineveh Plain is considered the "breadbasket” of Iraq, and it is one of the most fertile plains in the country. In 2014, the Nineveh Plain territory was overtaken by the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS). Close to one million people are estimated to have fled their homes, and at least 20,000 commercial and government buildings, including schools, animal projects, and training institutions, were destroyed. To achieve sustainable agriculture development the ideal use of natural, capital, human and technical resources are necessary. Through a cultural lens, strategies to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and management of agricultural development are being explored. The overall objective of the study is to assess the livelihood of agricultural sub-sectors of rural communities, highlighting farmer needs for restoring agriculture and proposing culturally relevant interventions and solutions. This project strategically selected the districts of Al-Hamdaniya, Telkaif, and Bashiqa to conduct interviews and needs assessments. Revolution in the agricultural sector can make it an engine of economic development. Post-conflict, agricultural expansion, and improved productivity may be achieved by focusing on agricultural promotion which includes improving the skills of farmers, the investment environment, irrigation, availability of data and information, and minimizing price distortions.

Overview:

The extension group is part of a large project that the University of Duhok undergoes and is supported by the LASER PULSE and USA Agency for international development (USAID); the main mission of our team is to determine the valuable agricultural resources for the farmers of minorities living in Ninawa Plain (Al-Hamdaniya, Telkaif, and Bashiqa ), identifying the main challenges facing developing these resources, awareness farmers and agricultural staff and propose suitable suggestions in which help them to improve their products and skills. Besides, consider all agricultural and cultural practices of the minorities and reflect them in our products and outcomes to strengthen the historical relationships among minorities living in Nineveh Plain.

Our team conducted 46 visits to 23 villages of all minorities (Christian, Shabak, Yazidis, Turkoman and Kakai) living in the mentioned districts of Nineveh Plain and farmers have been trained.

Topics of Training:

1. Alternatives (indication of the importance of other products
2. that are more profitable such as quail breeding and artificial insemination, Mushrooms, Broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
3. Silage preparation
4. Organic fertilizer preparation
5. Soil and water testing before the cultivation of land
6. Beekeeping breeding and improvement
7. Seed testing and qualified varieties
8. Managing soil fertilization
9. Cycling and recycling for animal manure and forage crops
10. Irrigation system
11. Mulching crops
12. Plastic house installation and management.
13. Integrated pest management (IPM) of the potato crop, with special concern on Colorado betitle, spacing and irrigation.
14. Corn production and management, Fall season problems and solutions.
15. How to prepare silage from corn biomass for animal feeding, an alternative to get benefit from corn biomass after harvesting
16. Irrigation management of vegetables (leafy vegetables such as celery cabbage, turnip, onion, etc)
17. Poultry project management and pest control
18. Alternatives such: local poultry breeds and turkey fattening.
19. Potato storage conditions and instructions.