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: www.icarda.org
13 September 2007
Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG), Ravi R. Prasad (r.prasad@cgiar.org)
 
Afghanistan Minister of Agriculture Acclaims ICARDA activities
H E Mr Obaidullah Ramin (center), Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Animal Husbandry of Afghanistan, talking to Dr Javed Rizvi (right), ICARDA’s Deputy Country Manager in Afghanistan, at the Jalalabad Ag-Fair 2007.
H.E. Mr Obaidullah Ramin, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Animal Husbandry of Afghanistan has lauded ICARDA's role in organizing, supporting, and transforming Village Based Seed Enterprises into sustainable seed production enterprises. The minister visited stalls of ICARDA and the VBSEs at the Jalalabad Ag-Fair 2007, organized by Development Alternative Inc. and USAID, 4-5 September.

"ICARDA is one of the most active and trusted partners of the Ministry of Agriculture," H.E. Minister Ramin said during his visit to ICARDA's stall exhibiting collaborative achievements in adaptive research and technology transfer through demonstrations; and the stall set up by ICARDA-organized Mint Producers Associations. The Minister, who was accompanied by dignitaries and Members of Afghan Parliament, expressed appreciation for ICARDA's work in Afghanistan.

One of the ICARDA-supported VBSEs, the Nangrahar Seed Company (NSC) participated in the Ag-Fair and exhibited and sold its quality seed; and also provided seed cleaning and treating services to farmers. This was done using ICARDA-provided seed cleaner at the Ag-Fair. The Minister observed the seed cleaning process and acclaimed ICARDA's support to the farmers. Ag-Fair organizers conferred a "Special Prize for Innovation" to the stall of Nangrahar Seed Company.
ICARDA-supported seed companies in Eastern Afghanistan participated in a Seed Fair organized by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture in Herat province. Several dignitaries visited the stalls set up by the seed companies. Seen here are (from right to left) Mr Tekeste Ghebray Tekie, FAO Representative in Afghanistan; Mr Matin Behzad, of European Commission in Afghanistan, and Mr Mirdad Panjshiri, Advisor to the Minister and Chairman of National Seed Committee, discussing seed production activities with Khalid Wadan of ICARDA.
Besides the Minister and several Members of Parliament, the Governor of Nangrahar, Provincial Directors of Agriculture, Heads of Extension Departments, farmers, officials from different Government agencies, and representatives from other developmental agencies also visited ICARDA stalls.

ICARDA, along with Nangrahar Seed Company, also participated in an FAO-organized Seed Fair held in Herat, 31 August-1 September. Mr Tekeste Ghebray Tekie, FAO Representative in Afghanistan; Mr Mirdad Panjshiri, Advisor to the Minister and Chairman of National Seed Committee; and Mr Matin Behzad, Rural Development and Food Security Advisor of European Commission in Afghanistan visited the stall of ICARDA-ALP-East, established and supported by seed companies of eastern provinces of Afghanistan.

ICARDA, with the financial support from Alternative Livelihood Program of USAID (ALP-E), has established 17 Village Based Seed Enterprises (VBSEs) in three eastern provinces (Kunar, Laghman and Nangrahar) of Afghanistan. Besides providing agricultural equipment, like heavy duty seed cleaners, tractors, and electric generators, and high quality seed and other inputs, ICARDA has trained members of these VBSEs in production, processing and marketing of quality seed of staple crops like wheat, rice, mung beans and potatoes.
Dr Javed Rizvi, ICARDA Deputy Country Manager in Afghanistan, meeting with the members of Village Based Seed Enterprises at the Jalalabad Ag-Fair 2007.
During the 2006/07 cropping season, these VBSEs collectively produced more than 900 tons of quality tested seed of wheat, and are multiplying seed of improved varieties of paddy rice and mung beans. To increase their marketing and negotiating ability, an umbrella organization has been set up in each of the target provinces that serves all the VBSEs located in a particular province. These umbrella organizations are registered with Afghanistan Investment Support Agency that provides them the status of a legal commercial entity in Afghanistan with eligibility for credit from banks and other organizations.
  

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15 international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.
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