A grower in Baghdida is growing a wide range of pepper varieties inside plastic greenhouses, part of an agricultural effort that community leaders say helps Nineveh Plain residents stay on their land.
Francis Ador told 964media he is managing the effects of an unusually cold and wet season, which has caused his Iraqi hot peppers to turn from green to red earlier than expected. "The color change will not affect the flavor," he said. His greenhouses, each covering around 500 square meters, sit near Baghdida along the Mosul road, irrigated by a nearby well.
Among the varieties Ador grows is what he calls "VIP" pepper, which he describes as the most intensely spicy of the three heat levels he cultivates. Milder varieties such as "Dara" pepper are commonly used in Iraqi salads, while small smooth peppers are used in pickling. He also grows Indian, small Turkish and American pepper varieties. The crops are currently in the flowering stage and require about two more weeks before fruit appears.
The Italian aid organization FOCSIV has provided 20 greenhouses to the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese in Hamdaniya, each 50 meters long and 9 meters wide, which the archdiocese distributes to individuals interested in farming its land. Pepper farming requires attention every one to two days, with farmers saying neglect or adverse weather can lead to total crop loss.
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