As part of the USDA - fund Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization project , Texas A&M University brought Iraki agribusiness personnel to Texas to stick in them to new agriculture applied science and methods that they can apply in their country .
The 13 Iraqis—10 from Iraq ’s Ministry of Agriculture , two from the University of Baghdad and one from the University of Babil — receive six weeks of farming instruction in October and November at Texas AgriLife facilities throughout the Lone Star State .
The revitalization labor , which begin in 2007 , is implement through a consortium of U.S. ground - Ulysses Simpson Grant universities spearhead by Texas A&M in cooperation with Iraq ’s Ministry of Agriculture and Iraki agricultural creation . It is administered through the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture , located on the Texas A&M campus in College Station .
“ The undertaking is in its second phase , and now we ’re focusing on bringing small groups of Iraqis involved in factory farm to the U.S. to acquire new knowledge , acquirement and method they can take back and share with others in their land , ” said Kate Whitney from the Borlaug Institute , who coordinate the training . “ As part of our accord , they have committed to deal what they memorise with others when they return to Iraq , so it ’s fundamentally a power train - the - trainer program . ”
The first workweek of education center on reference method acting and the 4 - H youth ontogenesis program .
“ We want them to know about this programme because so many Iraqi youth are need in agriculture and because it will serve them build up their futurity , ” Whitney said . “ 4 - total heat programs in the U.S. aid us develop succeeding leaders , and a program like this can do the same in Iraq . ”
The following weeks involved preparation in dairy farm , squawk cattle and little ruminant as well as aquaculture and domestic fowl . The group toured dairy cognitive operation in Central Texas , belittled ruminant cognitive process in the San Angelo area and fish farm in Houston . At Texas A&M , they participate in hands - on action at the university ’s domestic fowl science lab . The group work with university mental faculty and staff to develop course of study , course cloth and training strategies they can apply on their replication to Iraq .
“ We ’re spending more time on training and teaching about small ruminants , especially sheep and goats , as these are very important to the Iraqis , ” Whitney articulate . She added that even though dairy and gripe kine operations are less prevalent in Iraq , she thought the breeding and tours relating to these farming sectors would be utile because they are working to develop those industry .
Sajeda Eidan , a researcher and reader at the College of Agriculture at the University of Baghdad , was principally concerned in sheep , goat and cattle replica .
“ I want to improve my skills and learn more about how new technology can help me in my study , ” say Eidan , who has her doctorate in reproductive physiology . “ I ’m especially concerned in how to use ultrasound to determine maternity in sheep and Goat and in watch more about embryo transfer . ”
Eidan added that she was hoping to get word how to genetically improve sheep and heighten the quality of their woolen . This twelvemonth , the project will contribute a total of 61 Iraqis from the agriculture ministry and agriculture universities to the U.S. to receive training .
“ This type of project is key to providing intellectual nourishment surety , improving rural keep , provide sustainable resource management and increase economical development in Iraq , ” say Ed Price , director of the Borlaug Institute . “ Efforts like these will aid stabilise the nation and ply greater overall security for the Iraki people . ”
According to Price , the USDA initiated the undertaking to provide farming annex preparation and support as well as expand agriculture - university exploitation and advertize individual - sector affaire in Iraqi agriculture .
“ The goal is to aid accomplish sustainable economic improvement for farmers and others living in rural community throughout Iraq , ” he pronounce .
