At age 53, Abdul Amir Salman Aissa has been raising buffalos for almost half a century. He started when he was 5 years old, working in his parents’ field in southern Iraq – the same field he is raising his own buffalos today.
He has 35 of them, plus four cows, for milk and cheese production. But keeping them healthy has not always been easy in the challenging climate in Basra Governorate, where climate change looms and biodiversity is steadily decreasing.
Water shortages and poor soil conditions meant that fodder crops for his animals were often scarce or of poor quality, which threatened his food production and livelihood.
When Abdul Amir got the chance in 2023 to participate in a project that would provide him with more resilient fodder crop varieties and teach him how to get the most out of them, he jumped at the opportunity.
"Rye grass has transformed our farming,” says Abdul Amir with a satisfied smile. “It's a sustainable solution that boosts our livestock’s health and our profits."
The seasonal fodder crop grows well in the dry climate of southern Iraq. It provides essential nourishment to livestock during critical periods such as lactation, promotes growth and improves fertility –all at a minimal cost.
As part of the training he received, Abdul Amir installed drip irrigation, which ensures efficient water use and optimal growth of the new fodder varieties he’s now cultivating. He now gets several cuts per season and his yields have significantly increased to 25 to 30 tons per donum (some 250 to 300 tons per hectare).
Thanks to the premium fodder, Abdul Amir and other farmers in the FAO project have seen their milk production increase by an average of 37 percent for both buffalo and cows, and quality has gone up too. That, in turn, means more income from milk and cheese sales.
But the fodder itself is good business, too. Selling his surplus has generated an additional USD 2 000 per season – and that has allowed him to reinvest in his farm, purchase better equipment, and expand his fodder production.
Besides rye grass, he is growing more sorghum now and has prepared a 3-donum field to grow alfalfa as a fodder crop.
"We now have a reliable source of income and a way to sustainably manage our farm," Abdul Amir says about his family of nine. "It's not just about surviving anymore – it's about thriving."
