Subscribe
KABUL, Afghanistan - In a ceremony in downtown Herat, Afghan Regional Security Integration Command-West (ARSIC-W) Commander's Emergency Response Program donated 327.7 metric tons of certified wheat seed, fertilizer and 166,400 fruit tree saplings to local farmers, Feb. 20, in order to reduce poppy growth in the region
"Today, we have fruit trees that will be distributed among 2,080 families throughout the province," said Ismaein Heiderzded, the director of agriculture for Herat province. "We want to encourage our farmers, and especially our cooperative members, to benefit from this material and to have a good crop in the future."
In Herat, the planting season for wheat is coming to an end so this donation comes at just the right time. Some families have already received their share.
"This donation will give the farmers an alternative, so they aren't forced to get loans from criminals who want them to grow poppy," said Lt. Col. Louis Ohland, director of Civil Military Cooperation for ARSIC-W.
Wheat as an alternative to poppy is a growing trend in Afghanistan; although it yields less per acre. Some farmers continue their production of the heroin and opium producing crop citing profit and high cost of certified wheat seed.
"The price for certified wheat seed in Afghanistan has just gone up too much," stated U.S. Navy Lt. Dave Williams, program manager for ARSIC-W. "These farmers just can't do this without a subsidy from the Afghan government or assistance from non-governmental organizations or us. We have to be able to help them, assist them until they are able to increase their production of certified wheat seed. The actual seed here in Afghanistan."
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.22.2009 05:24 |
| Story ID: | 30284 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 373 |
| Downloads: | 328 |
This work, Afghan Regional Security Integration Command-West donates wheat seed to reduce poppy growth in Herat, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT