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By Navy Lt. Neil Myer
Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team
KONAR PROVINCE - According to Afghanistan's own statistics, 13 percent of the Konar province is suitable for farming. Wheat, rice and corn are the primary crops, all of which are reliant on irrigation systems fed primarily by snow melt from the Hindu Kush Mountains. Thirty years of war and sporadic drought has severely impaired the province's irrigation system and reduced the productivity of Konar's fertile valleys. Afghanistan depends on international agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture for technical assistance on redevelopment of the country's agricultural sector. Since March, Bruce Dubee has served as Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team's USDA representative to Afghanistan. This is the first time Konar province has had a USDA advisor as part of the PRT.
Dubee's mission is to coach, teach and guide district and provincial members of Konar's Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock to reconstitute programs that improve the capacity of Afghan farmers and agricultural officials. When not engaging with government MAIL officials, Dubee finds himself where he is comfortable; in the villages, on the land and working closely with the Afghan farmers. He travels with Soldiers and Sailors as part of Konar PRT's Civil Affairs Team to identify where limited available resources can be focused to produce the greatest effects.
"The valleys to the north and west are narrow," said Dubee. "Farmers there terrace the land to make it arable. They draw water by placing irrigation canals far upstream to the river. The southern districts have wider valleys and are definitely the bread basket of Konar. There is plenty of water in the Konar River. The problem is moving the water from the river to the crops." Working closely with the provincial director of agriculture, Mohsel Khan, and the provincial director of irrigation, Rasheedullah Zalmi, Dubee has designed a robust program of water management, animal husbandry and horticulture initiatives for Konar province. Projects include agricultural demonstration farms, water management schemes, solar irrigation pumps, vineyards and livestock irrigation ponds.
"Training is crucial", said Dubee, who has plans to create mobile agriculture training teams that travel throughout the province and teach vocational classes on small grain management, animal husbandry, water management and the application of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Perhaps the most innovative project so far has been an agriculture radio show, a 30-minute-call-in radio program run by Konar PRT agriculture cultural advisors Jamal Udeen and Granaga Haiderzia. The program airs on Konar radio and television on Monday evenings and has developed a fast-growing audience. "Moving beyond bare subsistence farming is the key," said Dubee. "Our program focuses on improving yields through training so surplus harvests can be sold at markets. That would increase farm revenues for future corps and benefit other agriculture economic initiatives."
"Mr. Dubee's work complements the PRT's strategy for economic development of the Konar province", said Navy Cmdr. Daniel Dwyer, Konar PRT commander. "The PRT in partnership with the provincial government is building 163 Km of roads and six truck bridges that will allow farmers to get surplus crops to market and will greatly improve the local economy."
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2008 12:32 |
| Story ID: | 22571 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 301 |
| Downloads: | 267 |
This work, PRT supports agriculture in Konar province, by LT Neil Myers, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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