82nd Agribusiness Development Team to Help Afghan Farmers

The 82nd Agribusiness Development Team of the Wisconsin National Guard will be helping Afghan farmers to develop their agricultural sector.  Read more in "National Guard to train Afghans on ag", Green Bay Press Gazette, March 6, 2012.

Harsh Winter May Relieve Drought Conditions in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's harsh winter may reverse years of drought when the snowfall in the mountains melt and flow into the river valleys watering agricultural areas.  Afghanistan has seen some dry growing seasons over the past year but farmers are hopeful for 2012.  Read more in "Harsh winter gives hope to Afghan farmers", Asia One News, March 2, 2012.

82nd Agribusiness Development Team to Deploy to Afghanistan

The Wisconsin Army National Guard 82nd Agribusiness Development Team will soon deploy to Afghanistan.  The members of the "Dairy State" were chosen because they have experience in agriculture-related fields to include crop management, veterinary science, hydrology, pest control, and food processing. Read more in "Guard unit to train Afghans about agriculture", Army Times, February 18, 2012.  Learn more about agriculture in Afghanistan.

Indiana Army National Guard Learns Blacksmithing for Deployment to Afghanistan

A group of Soldiers from the Indiana Army National Guard are attending a one-week long course for blacksmiths. The intent is to teach them skills that were used over a century ago by farmers to make agricultural tools. Once in Afghanistan they can help Afghan farmers set up village blacksmith shops that can make agricultural tools.  There is lots of scrap metal in Afghanistan as a result of thirty years of war.  Some of this scrap metal can be turned into tools that are useful for agriculture such as hammers, shovels, picks, chains, prongs, and plows.  The one-week long blacksmith course is being taught at the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Indiana. The park is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute.  See www.connerprairie.org.  See the news article at "Soldiers Study at Conner Prairie For Afghanistan Assignment", Indiana News TV6 ABC, February 15, 2012.

Agribusiness Development Team Coordinates with MAIL to distribute Fruit Trees in Laghman Province

An Agribusiness Development Team works with MAIL
to distribute fruit tree samplings to Afghan villagers.
(NGB photo by SPC Leslie Goble)

The Kansas National Guard Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) that operates in Laghman Province, Afghanistan recently assisted the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) in the purchase and distribution of 2,400 fruit tree saplings for Alingar District.  The trees, after some years to grow and mature, will yield pomegranate, almond, and persimmon. The NG ADTs are in Afghanistan to assist the agriculture sector of the economy to rebuild itself after 30 years of war and conflict.  Read more in "Afghanistan: Kansas National Guard ADT gives Arbor Day gifts to locals", National Guard News, February 8, 2012.

Agriculture in Afghanistan - USDA Resource Page

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a resource page on agriculture in Afghanistan.  It provides an overview of agriculture in Afghanistan and other information such as job opportunities, Afghanistan agriculture fact sheet, links to other agriculture resources, Agribusiness Development Teams (ADT), Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), current news, and videos.  Click here to visit the USDA Agriculture page.

Learn more about agriculture in Afghanistan.

Agricultural Development for Afghanistan Pre-deployment Training (ADAPT)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is funding a training program for military agricultural specialists who will soon deploy to Afghanistan. The program is called the Agricultural Development for Afghanistan Pre-deployment Training (ADAPT). The home base for the program is Fresno State University in the fertile Central Valley of California.  The program is designed to alleviate the food insecurity situation in Afghanistan and help the nation become more stable.  Read more in "US soldiers train for agricultural mission in Afghanistan", Fox News, February 8, 2012.

Learn more about Agricultural Development for Afghanistan Pre-Deployment Training.