Iraq war has had a crippling effect on Iraq's orange growers

[DoYouEverWonder]

Dec. 22, 2005
BAQOUBA, Iraq - Basim Alwan, 50, still walks the orange groves that surround the small house where he grew up. He still looks past the dark green leaves, searching for the fruit that's defined his life.

But these days he finds that fruit less often, and he's worried about what that means for his future, his community's future and even his nation's future.

"Without the orange trees, we'd be fish out of water, we'd die," he said. "We don't have any other jobs here. But since the war, the trees have been bare."

While the trees are still green and plentiful, they haven't borne enough fruit to yield a decent harvest for two and a half years, since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Bombs and bullets didn't rip the fruit from the branches, but residents still blame the war, which has affected the local economy in a surprising number of ways.

<snip>

The war has dried up fertilizer supplies, kept men from tending their fields for fear of unexploded mines, incoming mortars and bullets, and eliminated the possibility of adopting more modern methods, such as aerial spraying for insects. Farmers have the approval and pesticides for flyovers, Singary points out, but they no longer have any airplanes or money to pay for them.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/13467815.htm

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Why do the oranges hate Amerika?? nt.

[SpiralHawk]

2. It's been that way since the OJ trial

they got a grudge thing going...

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. OJ trial..... heh hehe heh...... "great one"..... you little dickens you.

[soulcore]

3. i wonder exactly how the tons and tons of DU

we've put into their atmosphere is affecting these crops and others.

Give it time, and mother earth will circle it back around to us, literally.

[anotherdrew]

4. I'm sure Jeb is just so sad about this

How's Florida's orange export biz doing?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. As of several years ago... many groves were being turned into

shrimp farms... I kid you not and they were producing some pretty awesome tiger shrimp.... see here:


http://www.ecofish.com/pressroom/pr_20041201.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ECOFISH ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED ORGANIC SHRIMP
Sustainable Product Arrives in U.S.A. Stores Just in Time for Holiday Menus

(Portsmouth, N.H…December 1, 2004) EcoFish, the nation’s leading supplier of seafood exclusively from environmentally sustainable fisheries, is launching today the country’s first nationally distributed Organic Shrimp. The organic shrimp will be available through hundreds of natural foods and gourmet retailers nationwide. A complete list of retailers is available by calling 603-430-0101 or through www.ecofish.com.

EcoFish’s new organic shrimp are packed in a colorful half-pound stand-up pouch, which can be found in the frozen section at fine gourmet and natural foods stores nationwide. The shrimp are quick-frozen within minutes of being harvested, locking in peak freshness and flavor. They are medium-sized, frozen raw, and prepared “easy-peel,” with a slit cut down the back, assuring ease of use. Suggested retail price is $7.99 per bag.

EcoFish will be donating a portion of the sale of every bag of shrimp to help support sea turtle restoration projects around the world. Sea turtle populations have plummeted in recent years, due in large part to entanglement in commercial fishing gear. By buying EcoFish organic shrimp, consumers will support sustainable shrimp farms and help rebuild turtle populations, and make a real difference.

EcoFish friends Ocean Boy Farms in central Florida raise these shrimp organically from their own hatchery and without additives, which means fresh, clean, healthy shrimp with every bite. The shrimp are certified by Quality Certification Services (QCS) under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standard for livestock as antibiotic-free, hormone-free, preservative-free, and 100% organic. QCS is a USDA-accredited domestic and international organic certifier, based in Gainesville Florida.

[jbnow]

5. Early in the war

we punished a village who said they didn't know where enemies we were seeking were by destroying their citrus tree orchards. We destroyed all the trees, cutting them down as villagers pleaded for us not to destroy their only livelihood.

This was before I knew how often we'd ruin lives there. I recall it because it made me so sad. Obviously the articles were more moving and detailed then this. There were threads here about it.