AFGHANISTAN SEED AND CROP IMPROVEMENT SITUATION

XII. STRATEGY AND APPROACHES FOR IMPROVEMENT

XII.3. STRATEGY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

XII.3.1. LACK OF NEW TRAINED PERSONNEL

It is notable that most trained and experienced professional persons working in seed and crop improvement were about 40-55 years of age, and seemed to know of most other persons in this field. These persons definitely appear to be limited in number (as compared to the country's needs), and will all retire within a relatively short time span.

No information on replacement by an ongoing supply of younger-but-well-trained personnel could be found.

Reportedly, the university-level training of competent agronomists ceased with the onset of war, some 20-23 years ago. Thus, there is at least a generational gap in the supply of competent, dedicated personnel to guide agricultural productivity, seed supply development, and farmer use of improved seed and inputs.

This is a critical constraint to national development and survival. It is hoped that some means can be found to overcome this potentially disastrous situation.

XII.3.2. FAO TRAINING

Some 4,900 farmer-contract-seed growers were reportedly trained by the FAO program (Tunwar). However, it is not known how many of these are still in place, after years of conflict and drought. Many of the persons trained in other aspects of crop improvement and seed production/supply are also no longer available to the seed program. No report of managers or specialists receiving technical or organized training from FAO has been noted. The previous seed program provided less than 10% of the seed needs, and it is not known, in some instances, if these farmers are still in place. No FAO training has been reported for the informal sector, or for crop improvement and seed infrastructural management staff, although their work clearly should have produced some people trained in these areas.

Trained people are the key element in a seed program, and agricultural development. And, there appears to be an unprecedented need for training-not only in training people new to this area, but also in upgrading and retraining of present staff, to keep them efficient and abreast of new developments.

XII.3.3. TRAINING REQUIRED

The following is considered to be the minimum of training required.

XII.3.3.1. Infrastructure Management and Implementation

XII.3.3.1.1. Government Infrastructure Leaders

Officials and managers at various levels in the government programs aimed at guiding and supporting seed, crop and agricultural development should be given upgrading training through study tours abroad, and short-term special-topic training in Afghanistan by international specialists.

Persons involved in developing, managing and implementing seed law, seed policy, seed support activities such as credit and transport, seed certification, etc., should be given special training programs. Because of the difficulty in keeping such persons from their regular work, these training programs should probably be limited to one week; if additional training is needed, conduct more than one course.

XII.3.3.1.2. Managers in Seed Programs

A noted lack, or at least unreported, in previous seed work in Afghanistan has been the training of local staff in managing and leading seed programs. This has exacerbated the existing hostile environment, and has not encouraged the development of improved seed programs. A special training in seed program management should be organized by ICARDA, at its headquarters because of the facilities available there. Identified manager-level personnel from Afghanistan should be given this training opportunity.

XII.3.3.1.3. Seed Processing Staff

As seed processing/treating/storage facilities develop, their staff should be trained in operations, maintenance, clean-up, needs identification, records, scheduling, and management. This could be conducted on-site in Afghanistan by ICARDA, by courses of one to two weeks held in the off-seasons, using local facilities for training demonstrations.

XII.3.3.1.4. Seed Quality Assurance Specialists

Involved in seed quality testing, these persons should receive training abroad in laboratory and testing procedures, ISTA rules and procedures, etc. Also, it may be possible to get special in-country ISTA training courses.

XII.3.3.1.5. Seed Health Specialists

These specialized staff should have university training in plant/seed pathology, and then receive specialized seed health training. The program in Denmark would be ideal.

XII.3.3.2. Extension

XII.3.3.2.1. Extension Managers and Leaders

Extension program leaders and managers should receive refreshing and upgrading training with leading Extension programs abroad. Extension methodology has advanced in recent years, and Afghanistan's Extension program could benefit significantly by training these staff.

XII.3.3.2.2. Village Development Extensionists

VDE's should have intensive training in crop and seed production and handling. They should receive in-country training in short programs, which should usually be conducted in off-seasons (except for necessary field experience training). They should all have detailed manuals of general seed science and technology as well as of operating procedures. Each year, before the primary work season, they should receive brief re-training on their work and an evaluation of current and expected conditions.

XII.3.3.2.3. Extension Seed/Crop Subject Matter Specialists

Extension SMS's should receive overseas advanced training in seed technology and Extension methodology, in a format which provides in-depth training which is still practical and applicable.

XII.3.3.3. Farmer Seed Growers and Handlers

VSE growers and village farmers should receive constant on-the-job guidance and training from the VDE workers.

XII.3.3.4. Research and Crop Improvement

XII.3.3.4.1. Research Leaders and Program Managers

Most of these persons should have already had basic university training, but require intensive training lasting probably a few weeks to a few months, to upgrade and modernize their skills. Organized training courses plus working with a research institution would be of tremendous benefit to these persons. A training course at ICARDA, combined with working side-by-side with ICARDA research staff, would be of great value.

XII.3.3.4.2. Germ Plasm Bank Management

Afghanistan should immediately begin work on collecting, replacing and maintaining its genetic resources. Staff should be sent to the ICARDA germ plasm bank to receive specialized training.

XII.3.3.4.3. Crop and Seed Improvement Researchers

Researchers should be sent abroad to specialized institutions (for example, ICARDA) to learn up-to-date equipment, procedures and research materials. Special courses of several months should be especially planned.

XII.3.4. TYPES OF TRAINING NEEDED

Training is needed at three levels:

Long-term advanced-degree training abroad: long-term training leading to B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. should be considered for persons who will manage the infrastructure and system in crop improvement and research, government seed programs, and extension. Suitable institutions abroad should be contacted, and study programs especially tailored for the trainees' needs should be set up.
Medium-term practical training abroad: training courses abroad ranging in length from a few weeks to a few months, should be organized for persons responsible for specific activities, such as seed testing, seed health testing, certification, various aspects of crop breeding and improvement, etc. Such training can be organized classes for groups, and for individuals who work in a laboratory or program abroad and receive training.
Short-term in-Afghanistan training: this type of training is suitable for the many training needs such as training farmer seed growers, training field inspectors, training Extensionists in guiding farmer seed-growers, seed testing workers, etc. It is also excellent for upgrading training, such as presenting training in specific topics for persons who already have some training or experience in a particular area and needing upgrading or refresher training.

XII.3.5. ORGANIZING AND CONDUCTING TRAINING

ICARDA is constantly conducting training for individuals and groups, in most of the areas in which training is needed in Afghanistan. Thus, ICARDA is capable and experienced in the training which should be carried out for Afghan staff.

ICARDA should organize and conduct the in-Afghanistan short-term training. ICARDA can either conduct, or organize with others, the overseas short-term training needed. ICARDA can also organize with universities the required long-term training; in many cases, ICARDA staff can supervise any thesis research required, and this may even be conducted at ICARDA's headquarters location or field sites in Afghanistan.

XII.3.6. TRAIN-THE-TRAINERS

From the beginning, it should be understood and organized so as to emphasize that the persons who receive specialized training, in Afghanistan or abroad, are expected to be trainers themselves, and train others and those whose work is under their responsibility. ICARDA should develop special approaches to emphasize this aspect of spreading the benefits of training.

XII.3.7. NUMBERS OF PERSONS REQUIRING TRAINING

At this stage, it is not possible to identify specific numbers of persons requiring training in any specific area. However, there appears to be a general need for either basic training, or upgrading-retraining. ICARDA should plan to train the entire staff of the seed testing and seed health laboratories, the field inspectors, crop research and improvement staff, and infrastructural management staff.