Zubair’s once-thriving alfalfa market dwindles to just two vendors as imported feed dominates

BASRA — The once-thriving Alfalfa Market in Zubair, a district in Basra, has dwindled to just two vendors, reflecting the decline of a vibrant hub that once supported the region’s livestock industry. The market, which in its heyday housed dozens of shops supplying vital feed, now stands as a shadow of its former self. Among its enduring symbols is the Al-Basam Mosque, built in the 1950s during the market’s peak, according to longtime vendor Mohammed Al-Rashed.

Al-Rashed, who has worked in the market for over four decades, said the decline of alfalfa sales is tied to reduced livestock farming and the rise of newer, imported feeds. “I’ve been selling alfalfa since I was young; the market used to have over 30 shops,” Al-Rashed shared. “It was a profitable venture back then because many locals were into livestock farming.”

Now, Al-Rashed and one other vendor are the market’s last holdouts. “I remain in the market with only one other shop, barely selling, so you see me offering just a few bundles,” he said, noting that each bundle is sold for 1,000 dinars (about $0.66). “I can’t leave the shop; it’s been my place for many years, and at the age of 70, my condition doesn’t allow me to work elsewhere.”

The shift in agricultural policy after 2003 and the availability of imported feeds have further strained local alfalfa sales. “After 2003, livestock farmers began relying on imported feed either distributed by the agriculture directorate or bought from the market,” Al-Rashed explained.

Another vendor, Salem Al-Fahd, has repurposed his shop into a gathering spot, now known as Alfalfa Market Café, in response to declining business. “My shop became a meeting point for friends in the 90s when the market was active. We used to sit, drink tea, and talk about our lives,” Al-Fahd said. “Friends still gather here to drink tea, but without any sales.”

Al-Fahd fondly remembered the market’s past significance. “This was a very significant market and one of the main markets in the district of Zubair. Due to its vibrancy and the influx of people, Al-Basam Mosque was built here in 1959 to welcome worshippers.”