IN

VI. EMERGENCY INTERVENTION IN SEED

VI.1. EMERGENCY SEED SITUATION IN BENEFICIARY VILLAGES

VI.1.1. FAO SEED RECIPIENTS

Martinez (e-mail, late April, 2002) reports that the situation seems quite optimistic in the (assumed to be FAO-serviced) villages they visited, in terms of farmer ability to purchase seed and the availability of seed in the local markets. He stated "As a result of my discussions here I realize that Afghanistan is a very special case where the farming systems are very robust and though suffering many stresses as the result of conflict and drought are still able to produce and deliver seed of high quality….Farmers with either grain for seed exchange or cash are able and prepared procure (sic) seed of a better type than their own or to replenish stocks. This is usually done directly from other farmers, rather than from merchants. FAO's experience has been that they have experienced no difficulty in finding a ready market for their 'quality' seed and farmers prepared to pay cash for this. In Afghanistan a number of different currencies may be used, depending on location, including Afghan currency (of two kinds) as well as rupees, dollars and in the west - Iranian currency."

Other reports from FAO indicate that there is still urgent need in many villages for emergency seed supply.

VI.1.2. ICARDA SEED RECIPIENTS

In visits to villages who were beneficiaries of seed supplied by ICARDA through various NGO's, it was repeatedly stressed that if they had not received seed from ICARDA/NGO, there would have been no seed to plant. Some of the villagers were returned refugees; all had suffered from the extended drought. As one said (through a translator from the NGO) "if we had not received seed from ICARDA, there would have been no seed and no planting. We had no seed, and no money to buy it if we could find it."

In some villages visited, the ICARDA-supplied seed planted about 85% (estimated by local farmers/NGO staff) of the fields. The remaining 15% were not planted. Farmers preferred to plant in the fall due to higher yields, but there was little fall planting because they did not have seed at fall planting time.

More seed was requested in several instances (as reported by NGO's), but the available supply was limited to some 50 kg/farmer, and the supply was exhausted.

Asked how they would get seed for fall planting, the farmers did not really know.

In Kharati Village of Maidan District of Wadak, the farmers and the Village Shurah Member strongly requested help in getting fruit and nut tree seed. These are the only cash crops of the village. They said that they can graft varieties onto the seedling rootstocks and supply several villages.

VI.1.3. INVOLVEMENT REPORTED BY FAO

FAO reportedly established a seed production and supply program in Afghanistan in 1955, and has maintained it since, with expatriate management and funding. Tunwar (FAO Seed Programme) reviewed the development of seed supply as it involved FAO, as follows.

"Before the 1970's, the seed industry was little developed (and depended on the community-based or "informal seed sector"). Afghanistan lacked the seed industry infrastructure necessary to make seed available to farmers in sufficient quantity with assured quality.

"In the 1970's, a significant start was made by setting up a state-run seed industry, leading to formation of the Afghan Seed Company (ASC) in 1978 (Official Gazette, 20 Dalwa 1356, 9 February 1978). The ASC (Constitution) Law (15 Dalwa 1356 of 4 February 1978) was set up as a Government Joint Stock Company, to perform specified tasks in production, processing, testing, certification, distribution and sale of seed; that is, granting official permits for any sale and distribution of seed and laying down labeling requirements. ASC management was vested in the then Supreme Council and Executive Board. Later, its name was changed to "Improved Seed Enterprise" (ISE) and 21 farms were transferred to it for producing seed of various crops. These farms had a total area of 11,768.27 ha, with 5,504.87 ha under cultivation. The headquarters of the Enterprise was in Kabul; it had several sub-offices in different provinces.

"In-country seed multiplication programs were conducted by FAO from 1982 to 1992, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture and ISE. After 1992, seed multiplication projects were implemented by FAO from Pakistan through NGO's or directly with local communities. The Improved Seed Enterprise (ISE) and the Department of Extension and Production started improved seed production of vegetables on a modest scale through the UNDP/FAO-assisted Seed Production and Training Project in the government-controlled area. The project established various facilities such as seed testing laboratories, vegetable seed processing facilities, five small seed production and training farms, and a training center. Great emphasis was placed on improving trained manpower in various aspects of seed technology. The activities of this project were later taken over by the Seed Improvement Programme of Northern Afghanistan (AFG/93/001) with the main objective to promote the production and multiplication of quality cereal seed and seedlings of vegetables and saplings of fruit trees for distribution to farmers with a view to increase the supply of food, fresh vegetables and fruits necessary to improve the nutritional standards of the people.

"The above arrangement continued up to April 1992. At the time of the collapse of the government of Dr. Najibullah, all facilities were lost due to large-scale looting which followed the change in the regime.

"The linkage and coordination between central office and provincial offices was completely broken down and few provincial units are now working directly under the control of the respective provincial authorities. Four provincial units if the Improved Seed Enterprise (Herat, Pulekhumri, Kandahar and Kabul) are still functioning as Implementing Partners (IP) of the seed programme. Breeder and Foundation seed are produced at different farms of ISE, while quality-declared seed is produced under the contract seed producer scheme with the assistance of the seed component of AFG/00/015. The sale proceeds of the Breeder and Foundation seed are used by the individual ISE units to pay salary and wages of its staff and to meet day-to-day expenditures. It has created extra enthusiasm to produce more seed so that more could be earned. Until further institutional support can be developed, these arrangements are likely to continue.

"Simultaneously, after the signing of the Geneva Accord in 1988, a second focal point, based in Pakistan, was opened for across-the-border areas not controlled by government. The first seed orders were placed with seed growers in Pakistan during 1988. From then until the conclusion of the emergency campaign in 1995, more than 48,413 MT of high-quality seed and planting material of various crops including sugarcane and seed potato have been delivered to more than 1,000,000 rural families (approximately 7.5 million people) in Afghanistan, in almost all provinces. During this period, more than 12 emergency seed programmes were implemented in various regions of the country. Up to 1995, the programme was funded through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes for Afghanistan (UNOCA). Later, major contributions came from the core fund of UNDP. A number of international donors, namely the Governments of the Netherlands, Japan, Canada and the EEC, also contributed generously.

"FAO/UNDP is the only programme (currently involved in Afghanistan) which has supported the public sector in the past. Functional (??) production infrastructure exists at several places, and produces more than 1,000 mt of quality seed every year. By 2001, there were 4,904 Afghan farmer contract seed growers in 17 provinces (present status not known or cited). These were supervised by the Seed Production Units (SPU) which had seed cleaning and treating equipment. Contract growers were paid 5-10% premium for accepted seed, paid with wheat supplied by the World Food Programme (WFP)." (Tunwar, 2002 report).

Current status: (Tunwar) "Surveys and analysis in Asian region in the past show that governments take an active role in promoting production and distribution of non-hybrid cereal seed. In hybrids and vegetables, the private sector performs that role or otherwise complements what efforts government is doing along the same line. Afghanistan could not be an exception to this trend. Thus, major responsibility of supply of certified HYV seed will fall upon the AIA and it does not require any survey or study. Thus in all future programmes, line ministries and concerned departments have to play an important role as counterparts. Unfortunately, the previous administrations were in no better shape.

"The entire physical and administrative infrastructure has vanished. Offices are empty of furniture and fittings; there are few telephones, no power, and very few staff in place with any previous experience. There are other areas of crisis, but it is hoped that Afghanistan very soon will effectively function as a single unified country. Thus, capacity and institution-building would be a strong component of any future seed programme. Strengthening public and private sectors is equally important to develop a sound seed sector." (report by Tunwar, 2001).

ISE only produced seed on its farms; no production was contracted with farmers. Its seed production amounted to less than 8% of total seed used by farmers. Of the 21 farms transferred to ISE, only 5-6 remain. (Tunwar).

Seed-related evaluation: even if FAO gets its facilities back into operation, they will be completely tied up in the seed program operated by FAO. They will not have facilities or capacity to handle seed from other programs. Also, this program only develops small-farmer seed growers, with reportedly around 0.5 ha of seed crop. This program does nothing to develop small or community enterprises which can become independent seed suppliers.

VI.1.4. DISTRIBUTION COSTS OF EMERGENCY SEED

FAO reports that it was responsible for setting the standard price of paying the NGO's US$50/ton of seed it distributes to farmers, for handling costs. One FAO source reported a payment of $55/ton, but this may have been an error.

FAO reported that FHC had been paying the NGO's US$70/ton for distributing seed, and was "upsetting the balance and increasing costs". On checking with FHC, this report was said to be erroneous; FHC had paid only $50/ton in accordance with the established price, except for one case: FAO had taken FHC seed, and then was unable to distribute some 300+ MT; at the last minute of the planting season, FHC paid an NGO $60 to distribute the seed FAO had taken, and get it to farmers on time to plant. This was done, but at extra cost, so FHC paid the additional cost. FHC has not paid $70 for distributing any seed.

VI.1.5. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION

IFDC carries out a USAID-funded emergency program to distribute fertilizer to farmers who receive seed from the FAO and ICARDA programs. Reportedly, each farmer beneficiary receives 50 kg of seed and 50 kg of fertilizer. This is distributed largely through the NGO's who have detailed village contacts.

Some surveys noted an "adequate" stock of fertilizer with merchants; we also noted considerable numbers of shops with fertilizer in stock. It was often reported to us, and should be noted, that many farmers and most (if not all) of the recipients of emergency seed and fertilizer do not have the means to purchase inputs.

While fertilizer use and application varies, FAO seed production recommends application of 28 kg DAP and 14 kg Urea at planting, and 2 topdressing applications of 14 kg Urea each, after the 1st and 2nd irrigations. Rates were reportedly per jerib.

VI.2. EMERGENCY SEED SUPPLY IN SPRING, 2002

VI.2.1. FUTURE HARVEST CONSORTIUM/ICARDA

In discussions with persons involved in or associated with the Future Harvest Consortium (FHC), it appears that a pragmatic and well-organized approach has been taken. Seed for the spring 2002 planting was procured and delivered quickly and in time to the distributors, who were mostly NGO's (some seed was delivered to FAO, but reportedly it was unable to distribute the seed and turned it over to an NGO who managed to distribute it. A distribution system was established quickly, and it worked effectively. Seed was delivered directly to farmers; recipient farmers had been screen, identified and selected as most appropriate recipients. Delivery to farmers was not without careful selection.

The Future Harvest Consortium (FHC), through ICARDA, provided 3,500 MT of wheat seed for planting this spring. The seed, imported in the emergency situation from the Punjab Seed Corporation in Pakistan of varieties tested in Afghanistan, was almost entirely distributed to farmers within less than 20 days. Farmers reportedly planted all the seed they received.

FHC/ICARDA is operating primarily in the Northeast, in the Provinces of Samangan, Baghlan, Takhar, and Badakhshan, from its office in Kunduz. The agronomist, Mr. Mohaqiq, in this office has some 19 years experience in seed production.

It should be noted that all NPO (National Professional Officer) staff of FHC/ICARDA have extensive experience in agriculture in Afghanistan, with some having held important offices in the Ministry of Agriculture, and with wide experience.

The seed distributed by ICARDA was obtained from the Punjab Seed Corporation in neighboring Pakistan, and was certified under the Pakistan seed certification system. This seed was field-inspected and laboratory-tested by external quality control; in Afghanistan, no external certification system exists, and all quality control work is done internally by persons involved in the production of the seed.

Seed was primarily distributed through NGO's who work, and have extensive village contacts, in the areas served.

FHC distribution of seed was as shown in the following table.

VI.2.2. FARMER SATISFACTION WITH ICARDA SEED

Harvest is still some time ahead; however, since both the wheat varieties distributed by FHC have been extensively tested in Afghanistan and shown high yields, good yields are expected. Fertilizer distribution by IFDC for topdressing the wheat crop is still to be done in many places; if this is completed in time, it will have a strong impact on yields.

In Bagram, a large shipment of fertilizer was made by FAO, destined for farmers served by the IMC and who planted seed from ICARDA. it was reported that the fertilizer (several truckloads) was unloaded in the Bagram Air Base, and is still tied up there. An appeal was made to FAO, which reportedly has taken no action.

Germination appears to have been excellent. All reports indicate that good stands were obtained. In some villages visited, conditions (soil temperature and moisture) were excellent, and germination was rapid. All farmers visited, and reports from others, indicate very high satisfaction with the quality and germination of the seed.

VI.2.3. FAO

FAO and ICARDA/FHC have provided seed in different, separate areas of the country.

Seed produced by the FAO-assisted program has been supplied, also through NGO's, in large parts of the country. The total seed production reported by FAO was in excess of 5,000 MT.

VI.2.4. IN-COUNTRY SEED PRODUCTION PROCEDURES

The FHC staff reports that it will use the following procedures in seed production in Afghanistan.