In Parwan, chickens came first

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Peter Ferrell | The Parwan Department of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock chicken farm has 800 chickens (600 hens and 200 roosters). The hens are laying up to 4,000 eggs a week.  

PARWAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

09.22.2010

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Peter Ferrell 

Combined Joint Task Force 101

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Three employees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington and one USDA employee from Kabul and the Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team visited the Parwan Department of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock chicken farm Sept. 22.

Bobby Ritchey, assistant deputy director, Doug Berman, director of fragile materials, and Paul Trupo, all USDA employees from Washington, and Rod McSherry, the ministry director of the USDA in Kabul, were led by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Roger Hamm, the Kentucky ADT team leader from Morehead, Ky.

One purpose of the visit was to view firsthand the progress made at the chicken farm since 800 chickens (600 hens 200 roosters) were purchased.

In addition, Shamir Amiri, Parwan Director of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock, visited to see how the local farmers are doing.

There has been solid progress at the chicken farm, as the chickens are producing up to 4,000 eggs a week. The next step is to take some of these eggs and incubate them to produce more chickens, which will then be distributed to the farmers.

“Americans want to know something good is happening here, and we can see it in reality” said McSherry.

The other part of the visit was to meet with Amiri at the DAIL compound. The group of visitors discussed the needs and issues of farmers in Afghanistan.

Ritchey told Amiri the DAIL is an important step in getting the farmers’ needs and concerns addressed.

“Irrigation, cold storage and dehydration for the fruits and vegetables, and trellises for the grapes,” said Amiri about the current needs for farmers in the area.

Other issues discussed were the packaging and transportation of the farmers’ produce to sell in Pakistan.

In addition, Hamm was told there are currently 500 farmers growing soy beans in the area.

Overall, the meeting was another example in using technical experts from the U.S. to assist the local people by improving the agribusiness of Parwan.

• Date Taken: 09.22.2010
• Date Posted: 10.02.2010 18:25
• Story ID: 57381
• Location: PARWAN PROVINCE, AF