Hoop Houses

Drip Irrigation and Hoop-style Green Houses; $900,000

Working with the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture James helped develop a government cost-share grant program designed to help farmers faced with runaway inflation to afford drip irrigation systems and hoop-style greenhouses. As a pilot program over 100 greenhouses and 100 drip irrigation systems were made available to farmers at a subsidized price that farmers could afford. This program helped to show the Iraqi Government how to leverage public funds and target sustainable agriculture while promoting employment of disadvantaged and women farmers.

These two separate programs totaled approximately $900,000 of which the individual farmers paid approximately 40% ($360,000).

Related Testimonies/Recommendations:

• Burdin Hickok, Economic Development Section Head, Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team, US Department of State.