AFGHANISTAN SEED AND CROP IMPROVEMENT SITUATION

V.SEED USE AND SUPPLY

V.9. SEED MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

V.9.1. EMERGENCY SITUATION

In the emergency situation, a central committee sets the price of seed, normally providing a 20% margin above food grain prices. However, due to the emergency situation this year, the premium was reduced to 10%. (DACAR)

During the emergency situation, seed has been largely distributed by the NGO's. These have detailed information on the receiving farmers, and more or less carefully ensure that the seed go to needy farmers who will use it. Most farmers apparently received one 50-kg bag of wheat seed per farmer. Other seed have also been distributed, including vegetables in a few cases.

NGO's contacted report that seed has most often been distributed on the basis of the receiving farmer returning seed/grain from the crop he produces, as payment for the seed he received. This has generally been reported as 1:1 by weight. However, a few reports have indicated ratios such as 1:1.25 or 1:1.5. Only a few reported giving seed for free, a practice which should be discouraged.

One NGO said that "because of the dire conditions in the rural areas we serve and the farm families we work with, we will be satisfied if we get grain returned for 70% of the seed we distributed".

V.9.2. BY SEED PROGRAMS

Previously, the ISE distributed seed, through various channels including the Extension programme, agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture, communities, etc. During the period of conflict, apparently most seed has been distributed by NGO's which maintain close contact with Districts, communities, etc., and have detailed information on farmers in local areas.

In its own distribution, ISE-Kabul reports that it does no marketing/distribution in the usual sense. After seed is cleaned and bagged, ISE announces over the radio that the seed is available at its storage. After securing a certification from the local Extensionist that they are bona fide farmers, the farmers go to the ISE storage and purchase seed.

V.10. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

V.10.1. ROLE OF EXTENSION IN SEED AND CROPS

In the Afghanistan context (note: this does not hold for other countries), the most appropriate channel for distributing improved seed would be through the Agricultural Extension network, once this is rehabilitated, trained and re-established.

Local Extensionists could serve as a channel through which improved seed is distributed to villages throughout the country, even in isolated areas. These same Extensionists could serve as initiators and technical advisors, and help develop local good-seed (in an Extension-guided informal seed supply context) production, which can bring villages into seed production as a small agro-enterprise development.

An organized form of informal seed production and supply should be encouraged, fostered, organized and supported in Afghanistan by a strong Extension program. This can be done by:

Organizing and assisting local seed growers, seed groups, and/or seed-growing communities.
Identifying (through realistic local trials which are under local conditions and seen by local farmers).the best varieties for local conditions, and getting farmer seed-growers the best possible stock seed (often, Certified or other seed from the "formal" sector).
Training the "informal" seed-producing farmers in seed production techniques: removing weeds, roguing out undesirable crop plants, good agronomic practices under their conditions, isolation, pest control, etc.
Helping obtain essential inputs, to the extent possible, to help improve the farmers' operations.
Helping provide facilities for cleaning, storage, and other handling. This includes machinery for cleaning/treating seed, and bags for it. Where machines are inappropriate, helping ensure that "traditional cleaning methods" do the best possible job.
Helping-before seed crops are planted, during crop growth, and after harvest-identify how much of what kind of seed should be produced, and in marketing it.
Help using farmers be able to obtain/pay for the seed, and help the producing farmers obtain payment for the seed they produce.

V.10.2. MIN. AGRI. REHABILITATION PRIORITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry of the interim government cites it priorities in rehabilitating Agricultural Extension as:

Providing and purchasing extension equipment such as : bicycle, motorcycle, color TV, camera, gestofax machine, Gestetner press machine, type recorder, computer, Xerox, video and high-power Radiocountek apparatus for 32 provinces.
Establishment of agricultural training center.
Rehabilitation of la b for control of improved seed genus (sic).
Repair of Agriculture Extension building in the Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
(letter 321/201/18 11. 1389, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry to FAO).

V.10.3. ADDITIONAL NEEDS TO MAKE EXTENSION EFFECTIVE IN SEED DEVELOPMENT

To create and operate an Afghan Extension program which plays an active and leading role in seed development and use so as to maximize farm productivity and income will require enlightened leadership in the Ministry of Agriculture and in Extension's organization and management. It will require highly-trained and motivated Extension workers at the village level, who have salaries adequate to encourage them to work, and operating budgets and facilities which enable them to accomplish their responsibilities.

Minimal needs would include:

A new organizational structure for Extension, with focus on subject matter specialists at all levels.
Training all local Extensionists in seed production, supply and use; and preferably to have local Extensionists who specialize in crop and seed development (as well as other Extensionists who specialize in other areas).
Backstopping and support for Extensionists from a central staff of highly-trained seed specialists, preparation of training materials and programs, technical support, etc.
A seed newsletter which can keep Extensionists currently informed of the seed need and supply situation, where seed are located, how to obtain them, etc.
Vehicles and operating budgets to permit Extensionists to help move seed to needed locations.
Authorization for Extensionists to be actively involved in production, distribution and supply of seed and inputs (this is not likely, in the near future, to create competition for any likely private sector. As, if and when it may compete, Extension policy and practices should be to withdraw from actual supply, while still maintaining technical advice and guidance).
Available sources of small-scale equipment needed to clean/treat/etc., seed, and sources of credit to help Extensionists develop and equip local seed supply.
Available supplies of good seed which Extensionists can supply to village seed programs, for use as stock seed.
Training programs for Extensionists to use with village people, to educate them on seed quality, how to produce it, how to use it, how to operate in a businesslike manner, etc.
Standardized forms for reporting seed activities, procedures for producing and handling seed, and record/accounting procedures to ensure careful management of local programs and transparent assistance to villagers.