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    Strengthening the Economy from the Ground up

    Strengthening the Economy from the Ground up

    Photo By Pfc. Andrya Hill | A Soldier with the Indiana National Guard, assigned to the 1-19th Agricultural...... read more read more

    FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARDEZ, Afghanistan — Eastern Afghanistan's Paktya province can expect to see significant development in their agricultural economy due to assistance provided by the Agriculture Development Team from the Tennessee National Guard, comprised of hand-selected volunteers that have deployed to the area in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for a little over three months.

    The Tennessee ADT mission while deployed is a very specialized one that only focuses on helping the Afghanistan civilians of the area by way of strengthening the agricultural economy. The ADT's mission encompasses a vast array of complex projects, including water conservation and irrigation, farming techniques, animal husbandry and veterinary practices, food storage, pest control, reforestation, vocational training and education. Demonstration farms, storage cooperatives and water reservoirs are among the major projects currently in the planning stages.

    "The mission of the ADT is to assist in renovating the agriculture economy," said Col. Jim Moore, commander of the Paktya ADT.

    "We have brought agricultural and engineer specialists here. These are degreed specialists, as well as those who work in agriculture and engineering on a daily basis in their civilian life. They are all handpicked volunteers," he said.

    In a country where 80 percent of the economy is based in agriculture, focusing on improving the methods of family-level production, as well as storage and exportation, is vital to achieving stable communities.

    "Just with that statistic alone, it tells you how important agriculture is to the economy in Afghanistan. These missions are going to be a long-term undertaking; no one team is going to be able to come over here and snap their fingers and make everything green," said Maj. Lee Sharber, the officer in charge of the agriculture team."However, over time we will be able to accomplish great things."

    Along with the challenges all agricultural specialists face due to weather, terrain, and product availability, the ADT will encounter unique obstacles in Afghanistan.

    "The province is pretty diversified in geographic terms. This is not a one size fits all mission. What works in one district won't work in another," said Moore. "It is also an issue of receptiveness among the village elders. They will be receptive to some projects. They will embrace them and therefore it will be sustainable. Others will just fall on the ground, which is ok."

    "We'll make plenty of suggestions, but what works in America will not work 100 percent here. There are some basics however, for instance, a tree is a tree, is a tree. A goat is a goat, wherever it is in the world. There are some basics that we'll work with them," Moore said.

    Along with the challenges of the terrain diversity, another challenge of communication and education is one in which the ADT plans to overcome by working hand in hand with Afghan universities.

    "We need to enable the universities: Kabul, Gardez, Ghazni, and work with their professors, teachers, and students," said Moore. "We have generations that need to be trained."

    With a schedule full of agriculture development plans, the ADT is eager to dig in with the locals and begin their work.

    "Our guys are excited. We're proud to be helping and we're glad to be called. My team is all volunteers, and every one of them has a good attitude," Moore said.

    The Afghans are equally anticipating a year of progress and close work with the ADT.

    "We have talked to several sub-governors already. We are primarily focused on speaking with them as they are the ones that are going to bring us their problems," Shuber said. "They're definitely excited that we are here."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.31.2009
    Date Posted: 05.29.2009 10:29
    Story ID: 34283
    Location: GARDEZ, AF

    Web Views: 175
    Downloads: 165

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