ICARDA News

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.org
11 January 2007
                             Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
 
Alternative Livelihoods Program in Afghanistan:
Village-based Seed Enterprises
ICARDA staff interact with VBSE leaders in Laghman province, Afghanistan.
ICARDA is implementing an integrated rural development project on alternative livelihoods (adaptive research, technology demonstration, local seed production) in eastern Afghanistan. The project is funded by the Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI). It integrates developmental issues with research, such as studying the feasibility of alternative seed supply systems. The project targets three provinces: Kunar, Laghman and Nangarhar. The seed component will establish village-based seed enterprises (VBSEs) to produce and market quality seed. Twelve VBSEs are planned, four per district. They will be managed by farmers; ICARDA will help mobilize farmers, provide technical support, and monitor quality.

Scientists from ICARDA’s Seed Unit (Zewdie Bishaw, Koffi Amegbeto, and Abdoul Aziz Niane) visited Afghanistan from 9 to 23 December 2006. The objective was to provide backstopping on technical and economic issues including establishment and management of VBSEs, development of business plans, provision of farm and seed processing equipment; and assessment of training needs. The team also initiated a baseline survey and established project workplans in consultation with other partners.

Meetings were held with VBSE leaders from the three provinces. Farmers identified their major constraints: limited access to credit, low quality of inputs, and lack of seed storage facilities. The idea of a province-level association (for lobbying, networking and information sharing) was discussed and endorsed by farmer leaders. VBSE leaders commended ICARDA’s work and plan to continue with seed production and marketing.

A leader of a VBSE in Nangarhar, established under the earlier RAMP project, said, “We have completed the first phase, i.e. establishing VBSEs. Now we want ICARDA’s help to begin the next phase of forming provincial associations to represent our interests.”
 

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.

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