ICARDA News

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE DRY AREAS
P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: http://www.icarda.cgiar.org

11 June 2003
For more information contact:
s.varma@cgiar.org
Raising Crops by Raising Skills:
Building Human Capacity in Afghan Agriculture
As the conflict in Afghanistan continued year after year to span decades, the most basic components of human progress suffered. Children were separated from knowledge that used to be passed from generation to generation. Many professionals left and found jobs in other countries. The experts that remained in Afghanistan were isolated from contact with peers and progress. As international agricultural research advanced to meet the demands of the global marketplace, Afghans fell further and further behind.

To build sustainable agricultural production in Afghanistan, researchers, extensionists, technicians, and farmers need access to new skills and new information. ICARDA and the Future Harvest Consortium build training into every aspect of every project.

Upgrading Afghan Professional Expertise
As the central government and its institutions struggle to gain the confidence of the Afghan people, the Consortium members are training and upgrading the skills of the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL) staff and University faculty
Water Management Course at Kabul University by Cornell University

members. Afghan scientists, researchers, teachers and technicians have upgraded their skills with hands-on training on seed health and quality testing, management of agricultural research stations, water management, virus-free potato seed production, communication, crop improvement, and soil quality.

ICARDA has rebuilt six MOAL agricultural stations in 5 provinces to facilitate farmer outreach. Consortium staff members are co-located with the MOAL staff and working together in implementing Future Harvest Consortium rebuilding projects as well as MOAL extension activities. Future Harvest partner, CIMMYT, offered unique training courses in wheat and maize improvement, specially targeted for scientists. The developed cultivars have shown excellent results in yield trials and participants were introduced to new agronomy practices such as raised beds. New, improved crops have been planted at the stations and farmers have access to the new technologies, varieties, and training.

Working Directly with Farmers
This past spring, farmers, university faculty, scientists and technicians were invited to learn the production of virus-free potato seed in Jalalabad. The production of the seed can be a business enterprise in itself, or a valuable tool in dramatically increasing yields. This training was repeated in eight other provinces. To date, over 725 Afghans have received valuable new skills that will result in better crops, new markets and higher incomes.

Cooperation with other NGOs
Since water remains one of the most critical barriers to agricultural production, over 100 Afghans have been trained in practical and technical aspects of essential water management by Cornell University, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR) and ICARDA.

The candidates advanced by DACAAR will return to Afghanistan to be integrated into their rebuilding strategy based on Integrated Agriculture Development activities. A region is designated for a comprehensive, multifaceted agricultural improvement program that includes: seed multiplication, soil moisture conservation, nurseries, irrigation improvement and animal husbandry. All of these activities involve active farmer participation. By training the trainers, outreach is expanding exponentially.
Afghans and other trainees in the fields at ICARDA
Preparing for a Market Based Economy
Training opportunities have created qualified, skilled workers for existing jobs and jobs that will be created as the economy moves forward. The six seed laboratories being installed are an essential step in building food security as well as entering a global marketplace.
Seed entering the country is tested for pests and pathogens, thus protecting existing
agricultural production.

Seed being offered for sale by farmer/entrepreneurs can be quality tested and labeled to build consumer confidence in a reliable product. This service calls for qualified Afghan men and women to staff the labs. Business plans are being prepared for these aspects of the burgeoning seed enterprise to assist Afghans in their entry into a market economy.

Thoughtful and strategic training opportunities conducted in partnership with other rebuilding efforts are reaching out exponentially to raise the capacity of Afghans. With security and stability, the effects will be felt for generations. The Future Harvest Consortium is striving to enable Afghans to generate agricultural technologies that address the unique needs of their country and achieve self-sufficiency.


ICARDA's (www.icarda.org) mission is to improve the welfare of people and alleviate poverty through research and training in dry areas of the developing world by increasing production, productivity, and nutritional quality of food, while preserving and enhancing the natural resource base. ICARDA is a Future Harvest Center.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of 62 members and 16 Future Harvest Centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment

The Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan is a multi-partner effort led by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). More information on the Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan can be found at: www.futureharvest.org

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the government agency providing U.S. economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years (www.USAID.gov).

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