Economics and Chicken Farms Given Assistance In Rebuilding
Before the Fall of Hussein, and before the war, there were a lot of different areas in Iraq that had a thriving chicken industry. Arab Jabour, Adwaniyah, and Hawr Rajab all were prosperous locations for the Chicken industry market.
After the beginning of the war, much of the chicken industry began to falter. Chicken houses and coops began to be taken over by insurgents as hiding places and safe houses, and much of the equipment used for chicken production was stolen.
Cables, water pumps, and other equipment was stolen by the terrorists, or put to other uses. Employees had to quit and stay away because of threats of violence against them and their families by Al –Qaeda.
Coalition forces have begun to help rebuild the chicken industry in Iraq. “This area was the largest in terms of chicken production in the Iraqi Nation,” said Captain Michael Lenart. Captain Lenart is Commander of 3rd Infantry, 2nd BCT, 2-3 Brigade Troops Division, Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
Funds from the coalition are being used to purchase chicks, new equipment, and new material to rebuild. “This is just in the first phase,” said Captain Lenart.
The new production will help create new opportunities and new markets. There will be a need for transportation to move products and other infrastructure will be needed.