Work Plan for 2002

Introduction:
Afghanistan's pre-war economy was based mainly on agriculture and livestock production. Despite its difficult terrain, adverse climatic conditions and limited arable land, Afghanistan was largely self-sufficient in food and a significant exporter of agricultural products. Since then, Afghanistan has been devastated by years of war and civil strife and a debilitating three year drought which have resulted in the collapse of the economy, destruction of infrastructure, massive displacement of the population and indications of hunger and malnutrition. The recent hostilities in Afghanistan have simply added to an existing crisis. There are now an estimated 5 million displaced persons within and outside the borders of Afghanistan. Compared to the pre-war situation, Afghanistan now has one of the lowest levels of per capita food availability in the world.
 
The country will require substantial humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance over a long period to regain its food security and reduce poverty. Rehabilitation of agricultural productive capacity will be fundamental to any recovery. The concluding statement from the recent international conference "Preparing for Afghanistan's Reconstruction, in Islamabad, 27-29 November 2001, reaffirmed that "agriculture is clearly going to be at the core of any survival and livelihood strategy for most of the population". 
 
A key activity in raising crop yields and agricultural output is the availability of quality seeds and other inputs. The disruption of agriculture in Afghanistan has resulted in severe loss of adapted germplasm and seed stocks nationwide. From the outset, the farmers will need good seed of appropriate varieties and other technical assistance to re-establish their productive capacity in the short-term and to stabilize food production and rural livelihoods in the long-term. Two criteria are important for seed used in Afghanistan: an appropriate seed pedigree for various agroecological and market situations; phytosanitation and seed quality to ensure good emergence and yields. These criteria are especially essential for seed that is to be multiplied and distributed to farmers. 

Background
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), given its regional mandate for the Central and West Asia and North Africa region has been invited by USAID to coordinate an initiative with other CGIAR Centers and partners to provide quality seed and other technical assistance that will contribute to restoring agricultural productive capacity and food security in Afghanistan. 
 
To this end, ICARDA convened a Stakeholders Meeting on Restoring Food Security and Rebuilding the Agricultural Sector of Afghanistan, 20 - 21 January 2002 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. At this meeting, Working Groups considered four major thematic components (i) Seed Systems and Crop Improvement, (ii) Soil and Water Management, (iii) Livestock, Feed and Rangelands, and (iv) Horticulture, together with cross-cutting considerations of agricultural diversification, employment and gender issues, and institutional strengthening and capacity building. The outcome of those deliberations are reported elsewhere.[1]
 
The most immediate problem facing Afghan farmers, as a result of the prolonged drought and disruption of input supplies, is lack of seed for the upcoming Spring and Fall planting seasons. This document presents the detailed work plan for immediate seed relief activities in 2002. 
 
At the same time the Working Groups recognized that there is insufficient information to recommend other interventions in the immediate future, and it was proposed that rapid diagnostic needs assessments are needed before detailed proposals for interventions can be developed. These needs assessments will provide the basis for the development of a framework and strategy for longer term technical assistance.

Objectives:
With the overall goal of restoring and enhancing the food production capacity of farmers in Afghanistan, the objectives for 2002 are to:

Work plan
The project involves two major components:

I. SEED RELIEF AND SEED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT IN 2002
 
The project will:

The Government of Afghanistan will be consulted on the proposed activities to rebuild the agricultural sector. The work plan will be implemented in close consultation and cooperation with the concerned national departments and institutions. The detailed work plan is given below and an outline timetable of activities is provided in Table 4.
 
1. Seed System Diagnosis and Needs Assessment
 
Understanding the most immediate needs of farmers will be crucial, in order to define the scope of activities such as seed procurement, multiplication and distribution. Staff will be recruited locally to collaborate with international specialists, local NGOs and community organizations in assessing seed needs and existing supply channels in Afghanistan. 
 
This initial assessment will feed back into the planning of all seed activities (especially 2.1) and will also form the basis for a more detailed diagnostic study of the seed system, the Terms of Reference for which are being prepared by a sub-group formed at the Tashkent meeting.
 
2. Making seed available
 
Although most irrigated land was sown in the fall of 2001, much of the rainfed land in the North of Afghanistan is reported to be fallow due to the continuing drought and recent conflict. An initial imperative is to verify the current cropping status of this land and the possibility of making seed available in those areas. However, there is very little time to meet the spring sowing deadline for some crops. The project will focus on the major crops namely wheat, rice, maize, barley, pulses and potatoes.
 
2.1 Seed procurement to rectify immediate deficits for 2002 sowing
Based on the findings of the immediate needs assessment, the project will collaborate with other agencies and national seed programs in the region to locate sufficient seed stocks of appropriate varieties for immediate purchase through seed relief programs as outlined in Table 1. It is essential that the variety and quality status of such seed meet acceptable standards. These include the use of appropriate packaging materials and ensuring that the seed quality is maintained during storage and transport. The Seed Unit at ICARDA will provide technical backstopping for this initial phase of the program.
 
Currently available estimates indicate that the traditional wheat production area has a seed deficit of 27,000 tons, of which FAO and its partner NGOs may provide 17,000 tons. The deficit is approximately 10,000 tons. FAO and its NGO associates are currently the sole suppliers of in-country ‘quality’ seed. This proposal envisages a major expansion and decentralization of the seed supply system to improve the availability of quality seed to farmers.  

There are three phases of seed procurement for 2002. The first is the need for seed of wheat required for sowing in spring 2002. Table 1 lists appropriate varieties and the best available information regarding sources and supply. If funds become available, the Consortium will work with other institutions to ensure delivery of up to 3,500 tons of Afghanistan-tested varieties to farmers for spring sowing. However, the timescale for this spring sowing is very limited and some relief seed movement are already in progress. (This activity is subject to availability of funds).
 
The second phase relates to the summer crops, rice and maize, which must also come from immediate procurement from external sources through seed relief programs (Table 2). Maize seed may be supplied through existing private sector channels from neighboring countries.
 
The third phase is to provide up to 10,300 tons of wheat seed (Tables 1 and 2) and 130 tons of seed of barley and pulses (Table 2) for fall/winter 2002 sowing and for this there is greater flexibility for intervention. This will come from production through the expansion of existing FAO/NGO programs within Afghanistan and from national seed organizations and commercial sources elsewhere in the region, where suitable material exists. Since there is little opportunity to sow new crops, this may require the use of ‘commercial seed’ produced from existing grain crops of good quality that will be subjected to field inspection and post harvest seed testing. Project staff will play a key role in identifying appropriate farmers who can undertake contract seed production. (Procurement of wheat seed for fall/winter planting is subject to availability of funds). 
These are preliminary plans and may be adjusted based on the findings of the needs assessment.
 
2.2 Foundation seed production

3. Expand the seed production capacity within Afghanistan
 
The current in-country seed program managed by FAO can generate up to 10,000 tons of final generation ‘quality seed’[2] through the ‘Improved Seed Enterprise’ and their NGO partners. The project will therefore expand the production of foundation and certified2 seed at ten locations distributed widely across Afghanistan. To support this extra production, each of these locations will be provided with small-scale seed processing equipment. 
Contract growers will be provided with about 620 tons of high quality seed from foundation seed plots at ICARDA (Table 3) in addition to the seed obtained from upgrading grain field in the 2001/02 season (Table 2).
 
3.1 Seed multiplication procedures
Seed multiplication will be carried out on contract for reasons of efficiency and to demonstrate the varieties and good husbandry practices at the community level. NGOs are already using this approach. The key elements in this process are as follows:

3.2 Upgrading seed cleaning and processing
The project will provide small-scale seed processing units at six sites, which will be identified according to need and/or the availability of suitable partners. It may be possible to manufacture this equipment under contract in Pakistan, and perhaps ultimately in Afghanistan. Coupled with local contract seed producers, these Provincial Seed Production Units will help to revitalize the local economy and may provide a focus for related commercial activities. This would be a natural point of entry for the private sector. The location of existing variety trial and seed centers is shown in Figure 1. Seed treatment will be applied to control smut and bunt diseases of wheat.
 
3.3 Upgrading seed storage facilities
One storage building with 220 sq. m should be constructed at each processing site for storage of seed and for seed sales. However, the project will make provision for temporary storage at each site for immediate needs. (This is subject to availability of funds)
 
4. Distribution of seed and other inputs
 
Local assistance in distribution of seed to provincial farming communities will be sub-contracted as much as possible to NGOs that already have established relationships with farmers. The local NGOs provide coverage of much of the country as shown in Figure 2. They have developed procedures for contract seed production and seed distribution involving the exchange of food grain supplied by WFP. These will be regarded as a source of ‘good practice’ for future seed transactions with farmers and communities.A clear policy on the pricing of seed should be maintained in order to differentiate it from grain and to avoid creating ‘free seed dependency’ which could have a negative effect on the establishment of a sustainable seed system. The distribution of seed and other inputs will be monitored to ensure that they reach the farmers and to obtain feedback on performance and utilization.As a collaborating institution, IFDC will supply technical assistance in fertilizer use, such as application rates, timing and methods of application. As far as possible, local suppliers will be sought for tools and other inputs appropriate to local needs and conditions. Maximum coordination with IFDC is required.
 
5. Strengthening quality assurance and agreement on minimum seed standards
 
There are two main elements in quality assurance, namely the field inspection of the growing crop, and the testing of seed samples after harvest. The quality of field inspection depends very much on the competence of staff and many FAO and NGOs staff have good experience in this work. Seed testing demands some minimal laboratory facilities and equipment and there is an urgent need for these. The project will provide two ‘mini-labs’ having basic seed testing equipment to initiate this process. 

The Stakeholders Meeting recommended holding a workshop for all those involved in seed provision to discuss and agree minimum standards for seed quality, quarantine and distribution. Active participation of Afghan institutions will be sought to ensure that relevant, practical and achievable seed and variety standards are designed, and that these are respected. In the longer-term, these regulations should be harmonized with those of neighboring countries to facilitate future response to emergency seed needs. This workshop will be held by the end of May 2002 in Pakistan and will serve as a working basis until more formal regulations can be prepared. Terms of Reference for this workshop will be prepared as soon as possible by a sub-group of the seed Working Group.
 
6. Institutional strengthening and human capacity building
 
To support the expansion of seed production, condensed short-term training programs will be organized for project staff and technical staff of Afghan partners on seed production techniques including quality and variety management procedures. Training in quality control procedures and seed health testing will be undertaken as soon as laboratory facilities are available and technical staff identified.
 
Workshops, on-farm demonstrations and field days will be organized for farmers as a means of providing extension service and creating awareness about new cultivars, quality seed and other inputs. 
 
II. NEEDS ASSESSMENTS
 
At the Stakeholders Meeting Working Groups considered four major thematic components (i) Seed Systems and Crop Improvement, (ii) Soil and Water Management, (iii) Livestock, Feed and Rangelands, and (iv) Horticulture, together with cross-cutting considerations of agricultural diversification, employment and gender issues, and institutional strengthening and capacity building. 
 
There is insufficient information to recommend "best practices" for agricultural interventions in the immediate future. Information gaps were identified and it was proposed that rapid needs assessments/diagnostic studies are needed before detailed proposals for interventions can be developed. All available secondary information and reports available from previous missions will be reviewed before additional information is collected in field visits.
 
These assessments will commence in April and are expected to be completed by August 2002, providing that travel within Afghanistan is permitted.

Project Management

A Project Manager, appointed by ICARDA, will be in charge of day-to-day operations in consultation with all partners concerned. The Project Manager will work in close collaboration with Consortium members and CG Center regional offices in Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. In consultation with these staff, qualified and experienced Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) will be recruited to supervise project activities according to specific terms of reference. The CLOs will deal principally with aspects related to field supervision, seed procurement and distribution by contracted growers and NGOs. The CLOs and other local staff will also conduct training and awareness activities for farmers in refugee camps so that they are well informed in advance about the project before they return to their farms.

Table 1. Procurement of quality declared seed (subject to availability of funds) (PDF File 100Kb)
 
 
Figure 1.Prior to the recent conflict, the government of Afghanistan maintained an extensive network of experimental research farms. Six of these will be used as initial sites for establishment of Provincial Seed Facilities and as locations for Community Liaison Officers.
 
 
Figure 2. The network of NGOs provides excellent coverage of most of the important agricultural areas in Afghanistan. This project takes advantage of their geographical coverage of the country and provides technical support and nationwide coordination through our network of Project staff.
 
 
Table 4. Institutional involvement and outline timetable of activities (tentative, subject to modification) (PDF File 80Kb