By Maj. Al Hing
2nd SBCT PAO, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Brig. Gen. Mike Milano, deputy commanding general, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, visited the Taji Qada, northwest of Baghdad, to see a local greenhouse project and the Taji flour mill April 5.
It was an opportunity to see parts of the agricultural progress in the rural area and a chance to stop and smell the roses.

Lt. Col. Harvey Fitzgerald, from Hermosa S.D., provided insight on the visit. Fitzgerald serves as the senior agricultural advisor of the embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team – Baghdad 5, attached to 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, MND-B.

“Working with our Inma partners, we are identifying areas that are critical areas of the value chain.” Inma, or growth, teams are contracted to assist Coalition Forces and the Government of Iraq in developing agricultural programs across Iraq.

Fitzgerald further defined the network as parts of the agricultural levels that are needed to provide food for the Iraqi people.

“It starts with soil and seeds to get the right product,” he said. “Whether you want vegetables for the families, or grains for bread or animal feed, you have to start at the soil.”

What was shown in the greenhouses was the product from the soil. The tomatoes, eggplants, beans and other vegetables were all part of the chain.

The next step is to get packing houses, where we can cool down the vegetables so they don’t ripen all at the same time and we can allow the Iraqi people to have fresh tomatoes across a longer period of time.” Fitzgerald continued. “When that happens, we’ll move closer to achieving a sustainable, profitable system (growing vegetables) for the Iraqi people.”

In the fields outside the greenhouses were barley and wheat, still green and growing. When ripe, the wheat will be harvested and taken over to the flour mill. The next step of the grain is the subject of the visit at the Taji flour mill, showing the process of grinding the grain through the mill to flour bags for distribution.

“This is a great opportunity for the general to come see the agriculture process in Taji,” said Dan Skotnicki, from South Fork, Penn., and agricultural advisor for 2nd SBCT. “The stability of the agricultural community will ultimately provide support in the rest of the Baghdad community,” Skotnicki said.

The grain was moved by high-pressure air from silos to the main building’s grinders through an array of tubes. From there, the grain was roughly ground to remove the husk, which was also air separated and the heavier grain dropped into the grinders.

Three floors of pipes and grinders led to the final packing level of the flour, where workers busily manned baggers. The 70-pound bags of flour dropped through a belt system onto the trucks and were driven off to local bakeries, shops and markets.

“We know that (Brig. Gen.) Milano understands that ePRTs have the knowledge to shape the agricultural region. That ultimately will assist the stability in jobs and providing food for the Iraqi people,” said Fitzgerald.

With the tour complete, there were a couple rose bushes of bright red and white blossoms. Milano paused to smell the roses.