| The goals were lofty and the deadline tight. Nevertheless, the researchers who received grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were able to carry out short-term, high-impact projects to complement the ongoing efforts to rebuild Afghanistan's agricultural system and begin the nation's transition from emergency relief to an economically productive, sustainable, and diverse rural economy. The Future Harvest Consortium brought together partners with diverse expertise to deal with the challenge. |
Researchers devised projects that addressed basic issues such as the inadequate supply of quality seed, the lack of trained professionals, the rampant pest infestations, the water shortage after four years of drought, the neglected irrigation systems and the shortage of forage for the remaining livestock. The Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan, FHCRAA/USAID, awarded a total of $1.25 million to eight short-term, high-impact projects and ICARDA managed this grants program. Each project was completed by the end of August 2003.
Potato Seed Production and Multiplication
The International Potato Centre (CIP), based in Peru, contributed to increasing the supply of virus-free potato seed in Afghanistan for local needs as well as future export to neighboring countries, by developing a farmer-based seed multiplication system. The successful training of farmers and the testing of new varieties expanded from Jalalabad to Kabul and Bamyan districts. For example, Bamyan used virus-free seed produced in Jalalabad for the summer 2003 harvest. The new farmer candidates began their training and the necessary equipment was on its way.
Sustainable Maize Systems: Seeds for Peace
The International Center for Wheat and Maize Improvement (CIMMYT) scientists implemented an open-pollinated maize improvement program. Researchers identified candidates for training and chose twenty locations for nurseries around Afghanistan. CIMMYT distributed seeds to the nurseries and arranged the planting of these experiments near key villages. Farmer survey documents were prepared, and translators produced a manual in Pashto and Dari for farmers and extension agents. After training, farmer-cooperators were able to observe production problems and to identify maize populations for on-farm commercialization.
Human Resource Capacity Building in Afghanistan
CIMMYT contributed to building human resource capacity by training around 30 scientists. Five Afghan scientists participated in the wheat improvement training course, and two attended the advanced agronomy course in Mexico. One maize breeder attended the advanced maize improvement course and two wheat scientists joined the CIMMYT-Turkey office for training. An in-country training course was held for twenty Afghan scientists.
Rangeland Information Products from Remotely Sensed Imagery in Afghanistan
Michigan State University utilized satellite remote sensing and GIS technology to create detailed maps that will improve rangeland management. GIS experts accessed and overlaid MODIS imagery and DEM data layers and integrated the information from Landsat images for all of Afghanistan for the period May 2002 to the present. The on-ground data validation study began in June, and despite enormous security and logistical problems, was a success. The crew traveled around the rainfed regions of Afghanistan with GPS, video and computing equipment to compare and validate on-ground forage productivity with landsat-based estimates. The resulting maps were provided to farmers and agricultural professionals at the MSU website http://35.8.163.126/research/ along with training in interpretation and utilization of the data for improved rangeland management.
Agricultural Production on Degraded/Saline Land
Drought has reduced surface water supplies and the bulk of the irrigation systems, which produced over 80% of Afghanistan's food supply. The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), based in the United Arab Emirates, provided apprenticeships for extension agents to improve their basic skills in designing and operating improved irrigation systems suitable for saline soils and water. Three student-trainees worked at ICBA for six weeks and attended a two-month water and soil management course at ICARDA.
Farm Water Management and Irrigation
Groundwater resources have been overexploited and the water tables have dropped significantly over large areas of Afghanistan causing wells to go dry. Soil salinization and degradation is a priority issue in five provinces-Helmand, Ghazni, Faryab, Shaberghan, and Khandahar. The Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR) worked to introduce best management practices for farm water management and irrigation. Their project commitment was fulfilled by training eight Afghan scientists in best water management practices at the water and soil management course at ICARDA headquarters.
Best Management Practices for Water and Soil
A team from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York held a workshop on "Best Management Practices for Water and Soil" at the College of Agriculture in Kabul. Seventy-four Afghans attended the first day's course on water management and approximately 200 attended the second day's for training in crop and soil management. The researchers also organized a traveling workshop for 35 participants on 12-15 May 2003. The participants visited irrigation systems and farms in Baghlan and Balkh provinces, and toured the Parwan irrigation project. During the workshop, the investigators conducted field schools to help farmers better understand water and nutrient management principles. Handouts in the local languages on key factors in wheat production, soil nutrient deficiencies, wheat diseases and water management were distributed at the workshop.
Building Capacity to Control Sunn Pest Infestations
The number one biological constraint to wheat production in Afghanistan is the insect known as "Sunn Pest." The indiscriminate use of pesticides has created resistance in, and killed the natural enemies of, this destructive insect. Wheat yield losses ranged from 50% to 90% in 2002. ICARDA and the University of Vermont, USA, addressed the Sunn Pest problem by training and providing information to growers and NGOs. ICARDA trained 10 Afghan scientists in IPM techniques for Sunn Pest management that included methods for mass rearing important natural enemies. ICARDA also conducted an in-country training course in August 2003. Crop production guides on insect management were translated into Dari and Pashto. The group also delivered a Sunn Pest Management Guide to the Central Asian Development Group (CADG) in March that enabled local farmers to save 32,000 ha of irrigated wheat production. Researchers also reestablished the Kabul University Entomology Laboratory, furnished with equipment purchased through this grant.
The USAID-funded, ICARDA-managed Short-Term High-Impact grants program made a difference in Afghanistan by providing improved potato and maize germplasm, better understanding of national forage productivity, and training plant breeders, agronomists, water and crop pest management researchers.
