Missouri Guard Agribusiness Development Team, partners with the University of Missouri

Members of the Missouri National Guard's Agribusiness Development Team V joined the University of Missouri's Southern Research Center's faculty for a dialogue on Afghanistan agriculture in Mount Vernon, Mo., April 15.
(Photo by Capt. Dale E. Mitchell/Missouri National Guard)

By Capt. Dale E. Mitchell
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. - Members of the Missouri National Guard's Agribusiness Development Team V joined the University of Missouri's Southwest Research Center's faculty for a dialogue on Afghanistan agriculture in Mount Vernon on April 15.

The research center faculty, led by superintendent Mike Collins identified and reviewed Afghan agricultural issues, tailoring a pre-deployment training event that helped prepare the Guardsman for their upcoming mission to Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

"Several decades of armed conflicts, tribal wars and Taliban rule have significantly derailed the once prosperous Afghan agricultural system," said Maj. Samuel Forester, of Eugene, the agribusiness team chief. "Through the power of strong partnerships, we can better facilitate the rebuilding of Afghanistan. The faculty of the Southwest Research Center will be a very valuable contact for our agribusiness initiatives."

Topics covered included energy-efficient solar-heated greenhouses, small crop farming, foraging, rotational grazing and silvo grazing techniques, rice production, animal husbandry and orchard management.

Agriculture alone accounts for more than 80 percent of Afghanistan's gross domestic product and provides employment for more than 70 percent of the population. Agriculture is the key to the future of Afghanistan.

"There are several things to look out with regards to agriculture in Nangarhar Province," said team commander Col. John Akers, of Troy. "We have to focus on small incremental change with the populace. Any techniques we introduce have to be sustainable by Afghan standards."

The key to strategic success is in allowing local farmers to meet and view current sustainable farming ideas, Akers said. During his command, focus will be placed on building more comprehensive educational resources for each district's agricultural extension agent. The role of the agricultural extension agent is to advise and encourage farmers to adopt the best farming practices available given the economic and environmental constraints of their respective district.

"The Southwest Research Center is a premier facility with the latest research-based sustainable farming techniques," Forester said. "I would like to recreate the same type of research techniques on a smaller scale in each key terrain district using the model village concept."

Partnerships with the agricultural extension agents will be focused on creating demonstration farms. The goal will be to have a model farm site within each district, designed with both the large and small audience in mind. The belief is that individual farmers need to participate in the process. Looking at an example of efficient farming practices will show the people what is possible with their land, and the potential for adoption of similar practices will be greater.

"Large scale, high-dollar projects will not work," Akers said. "Our focus has to be small projects, high impact, labor intensive, sustainable to the Afghan standard but must be approved and coordinated with the director of agriculture, irrigation, and livestock, Mr. Safi. We can't afford to build projects that local populace does not need, want, or can't maintain. We must be good stewards with the American tax payers' dollars. Our primary focus will be on projects under $5,000."

The faculty of the Southwest Research Center will also serve as reach back agricultural support. Services provided will be expertise and guidance on agriculture issues unique to Afghanistan, support and guidance in developing lesson materials, and they will also possibly conduct virtual satellite classes.

Ultimately, the team's partnership with the University of Missouri's Southwest Research Center will bring research-based sustainable farming practices to the farmers of Afghanistan and help the Afghans secure their economic future by teaching them to be good stewards of their land.

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