AFGHANISTAN
IV. DEVELOPMENT OF SEED SUPPLY
IV.1. DEVELOPMENT OF SEED SYSTEMS
In the late 1960's, seed production and multiplication were performed by the Agricultural Research and Extension Department in research stations of the different provinces. Emphasis was more on wheat seed production and multiplication. Seed were harvested, cleaned and then distributed to farmers.
In 1972, the Department of Agro-Business was established in the Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. This Department was responsible for multiplication and distribution of seed of improved varieties of wheat.
In 1975, the Afghan Seed Company (ASC) was established with support of the Asian Development Bank, as a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture. The main function of ASC was production and distribution of wheat seed.
In 1976, vide the Official Gazette (Wednesday 27 Zamari (Asad) 1355)(Official Gazette, Ministry of Justice, Kabul, editor M.H. Tughyan, August 18, 1976, issue no. 341), the Afghan Seed Company's Articles of Association was proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Council of Ministers and received the approval of the head of the states. This Articles of Association was composed of 11 chapters and 32 articles.
The main task of the ASC was production, processing, testing, certification, distribution and sale of seed. The company built 3 laboratories for testing and storages for keeping seed after processing. There was one large processing plant for wheat seed with capacity of 5 MT/hour in Darul Amon and and 2-3 mobile seed cleaning units, each with capacity of 1 MT/hour.
The main office of ASC was established in Kabul. Branches were in Kandahar, Helmand, Ghazni and Baghlan Provinces. Also, seed multiplication farms were established in Kandahar (Turnak) with 960 ha for wheat and maize seed production; in Helmand (Marja) with 1.500 ha for wheat maize and cotton seed production; in Ghazni (Sardeh) with 2.000 ha for wheat and horticultural crops; a farm in Baghlan (Larkhabi) was planned but never activated.
The; main wheat varieties under production and multiplication were the facultative varieties Mexipak, Kalyan 227, Bakhtar; and the winter wheat varieties Martinovasar (Yugoslavia), and the Russian varieties Bezoztia and Kavkaz. Approximately 1,500-2,500 MT of seed were produced annually.
In 1985, the Council of Ministers changed the name of the seed company to the Improved Seed Enterprise (ISE). In addition to wheat seed, vegetable seed and seedlings were also produced. The; number of farms, because of land reforms, was increased from 3 to 21: 6 in Kabul, 1 in Kunduz, 2 in Jowzjan, 1 in Kandahar, 1 in Ghazni, 2 in Baghlan, 6 in Balkh, 1 in Herat, and 1 in Helmand Provinces. In addition to the above-mentioned farms, one greenhouse for production of vegetable seedlings and one laboratory for seed testing were established in Badambagh. Both currently are not in working condition and need rehabilitation.
From 1982-92, seed multiplication programmes were carried out by FAO inside Afghanistan with the cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Improved Seed Enterprise.
Later on, these activities were implemented by the Seed Improvement Programme of Northern Afghanistan in Mazar-I-Sharif. It was continued up to April, 1992, at which time the linkage and coordination between the provincial and central offices were broken. At present, four ISE plants (Herat, Pulekhumri, Kandahar, and Kabul) are working as implementing partners (IP's)of the FAO seed component. Foundation seed are produced on the ISE farms in these provinces; money obtained from sale of Foundation seed is used for salary of staff and for daily expenditures.
After 1992, seed multiplication projects were implemented from Pakistan by FAO through implementing partners (NGO's), or directly with Shurahs (village councils) and communities. Also, emergency seed programs were implemented in various regions of the country to procure quality-declared seed of cereals and legumes for distribution to farmers. Also, a number of international donors such as Japan, Netherlands, Canada, ECU, etc., contributed generously for production of improved seed. (Mr. A.R. Manan, formerly Director of Research in the Ministry of Agriculture, now specialist advisor to ICARDA-Afghanistan).
There was no seed certification agency or department of certification of seed in Afghanistan. ISE was multiplying and producing improved seed to farmers without certification.
In 1989-90, the Department of Seed Certification was established in the Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture to check and certify seed produced by the ISE. However, no certification law was enacted. As the conflict continued, the MOAL became inactive, and ISE "certified" its own seed internally.
IV.3. SEED PURIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT
The Department of Seed Purification and Improvement, within the Ministry of Agriculture, was established in the late 1980's with the help of Russian experts. Its role was to conduct germination tests and purify and maintain varietally-pure stock (Breeder) seed use to plant the fields which produced seed for distribution to farmers. They established a laboratory for seed testing on Badambagh Research Station, and planting of seed for varietal purification was done on the Darul Amon Agricultural Research Station. In this project, 4 Russian experts worked along with Afghan scientists.
No research on seed improvement, supply, etc., has been reported.
Before the war, Breeder seed in small amounts was handled by the breeders (Wassimi). The Crop Improvement Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock produced small amounts which were given to the ISE to re-multiply into Foundation seed on its farms (Manan).
During recent years, the supply of Breeder seed was reportedly interrupted. On its farms, the ISE maintained "purified" stocks as Foundation seed.
Under the originally-developed system, the ISE took the Breeder seed from the Crop Improvement Department, and re-multiplied it into Foundation seed on its owned seed farms.
During the period of conflict when the Crop Improvement Department was not functioning, the ISE re-multiplied some of its own seed for use as Foundation seed.
Foundation seed (actually, only "stock" seed, as it was not multiplied from Breeder seed) during the period when the FAO programme has been operating, was allocated only to ISE farms and seed producers involved in the program assisted/managed by FAO. Again, this has been done on ISE farms, and has had only internally-administered quality control. Standards have not been obtainable.
12 ISE farms produce Foundation seed in various regions (Tunwar). These farms are listed elsewhere herein.
IV.7. GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN SEED
This was past involvement, when there was economic activity and a stable government. There appears to be no government involvement in seed at this time (ISE is a parastatal organization). However, with peace, stability and adequate investment, most of these can reportedly be restored to operation and improved upon.
IV.8. GOVERNMENT SEED SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION
There was no direct government seed supply, but there was a parastatal seed company (ISE), there was seed multiplication and distribution. ISE had good seed, and distributed it in some districts, but not in all.
There was an Extension agent in every district, and the Extension provided a channel for seed distribution (GRSP).
IV.9. SEED LEGISLATION AND POLICY
One report stated that, before the fall of the pre-war government, there was seed Certification, seed standards, Seed Law, and Seed Policy (GRSP). These were Ministry programs, and can be revived with the establishment of a stable new government.
However, a person familiar with agricultural legislation and the Official Gazette stated that there was no officially-published act to establish a specific legal base for these. These activities were implemented as part of the program of Departments in the Ministry of Agriculture. No legal act was found for these, in discussions with various persons.
IV.10. GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE
Units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock were responsible for all government seed activities.
Although the main task of the ASC (now ISE) was production, processing, testing, certification, distribution and sale of seed, it built 3 laboratories for testing seed after processing.
During the conflict, these were looted and "seed testing facilities are almost non-existent" (Tunwar, interview).
The Herat seed station, however, was not looted and still has a well-equipped seed testing laboratory (Fitzherbert).
IV.12. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND INCENTIVES
There were
apparently no specific government measures to promote the production, supply
or use of higher-yielding seed, except for the work of Extensionists and
Agricultural Researchers.