Saddam will soon face trial for the atrocities of the 1987 Anfal campaign that killed nearly 100,000 Iraqi Kurds in Dahuk province and demolished the region’s homes and businesses.
But, thanks to enterprising Iraqis and U.S. help, Dahuk is finding new life.
“There was no need to destroy our farms and vineyards. That was cruel,” Saleem told AFP. “But by God’s grace we are bouncing back.”
U.S.-funded Agriculture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq helped re-establish Saleem’s vineyard and two others.
ARDI horticulturists visited hundreds of grape cultivators in 2005 to identify the best vines for first generation nurseries. Workers then made 1.2 million cuttings of these vines to establish new plants in the three vineyards.
In addition to the new plants, each vineyard’s staff received training in new irrigation, cultivation and trellising technology.
Diego Hay, a senior grants manager with ARDI, said the plan is to help Iraq reduce the import of grapes and eventually become an exporter of the fruit. About 85 percent of the grapes consumed by Iraqis now come from Iran, Syria, Turkey or Jordan.
“Not many know that grape is Iraq’s first fruit,” horticulturist Zuhair al-Amil told AFP. Al-Amil is helping ARDI and other agencies restore grape production.
Iraq had about 43 million grape vines in 1977, compared to only 35 million date palms, he told the French news agency. “War with Iran and the Anfal attacks destroyed nearly 10 million plants. We want to rebuild the crop now as Iraq has the ability to produce various varieties of grapes.”