In Nineveh
Abu Hajeera: A century-long tradition of agricultural innovation and resilience
RABIA, Nineveh — Abu Hajeera, a village located 12 kilometers from the center of Rabia in the Nineveh Governorate. Its story reflects a blend of tradition and innovation, with a rich history of overcoming obstacles through communal effort and a steadfast commitment to the land.
Abu Hajeera is home to approximately 200 families from the Shammar, al-Naim, and al-Lahib tribes. Established in 1900 by Sheikh Farhan Mutib Al-Jarba, the village has a storied history of agricultural innovation and communal resilience.
The name Abu Hajeera, which means “Father of Stones” in Arabic, reflects the village’s rocky landscape, contrasted with its fertile soil conducive to agriculture and livestock herding. This juxtaposition has defined the village’s economic activities for over a century, with residents primarily engaged in farming wheat, barley, vegetables, and sheep herding.
Abu Hajeera was an early adopter of the “Sebayba” irrigation system in 1930, a significant advancement from traditional irrigation methods initially introduced by Al-Jarba. The system, involving a large iron basin for water storage and distribution, represented a leap forward in agricultural efficiency for the village.
In the 1980s, the village’s strategic importance and agricultural potential attracted the Chinese FAW company, which established significant concrete irrigation canal projects in the area. These developments marked a new phase of agricultural infrastructure enhancement in Abu Hajeera, although FAW’s operations concluded in 1990, subsequently managed by Iraqi teams until 2014.
Abd Muhammad Al-Shammari, a village elder, recounts the history and development of Abu Hajeera, emphasizing the foundational role of Sheikh Farhan Mutib Al-Jarba and the subsequent growth of the village through the integration of other tribal families. This history underlines the community’s evolution and its commitment to agricultural innovation.
The village also prioritizes education, with two schools established to serve its younger population. A primary school was founded in 1977, followed by a middle school in 2005, highlighting Abu Hajeera’s dedication to educational development alongside its agricultural heritage.
Despite challenges, including the cessation of the FAW company’s operations following the fall of Nineveh to ISIS in 2014, Abu Hajeera continues to be a symbol of agricultural persistence and community solidarity.
Two iron and concrete Sebayba irrigation systems in the village