Iraqi fish industry boosted by microgrants

BAGHDAD, May 8 (UPI) -- U.S. reconstruction officials said microgrants supplied to the Iraqi fish industry generate enough momentum to restart the struggling sector.

U.S. provincial reconstruction teams visited a fish farm near Salman Pak south of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Reconstruction officials awarded a $2,500 microgrant to an area farm to increase production and generate business growth, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq said in a release.

Conflict destroyed much the infrastructure on the farms, and the microgrants provided enough revenue to repair water pumps and restock protein feed supplies.

Most of the farms in the region lack production capacity beyond basic sustenance levels, but the grants put yield forecasts over 3,000 pounds for the first year's harvest.

The microgrant program worked through a collaboration between U.S. reconstruction officials and the local agricultural union that targets aid to the most promising ventures.

The Iraqi agricultural union allocated microgrants backed by U.S. funds to 19 fish farms in the area, the embassy said.

"The process was there for an Iraqi to help another Iraqi. It's boosting his confidence in his government if he can get something done with his local union," said military adviser Capt. Christopher Flores.