Kunar ADT focused on Afghan-driven solutions

Photo By Capt. Peter Shinn | U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Don Kuehl of Jackson, Minn., a soils specialist for the Iowa National Guard's 734th Agri-Business Development Team, meets with agricultural officials and farmers from the Sarkani District of Kunar province at a potential demonstration farm site near the Sarkani District Center, Sept. 28. Kuehl heard pleas from the Afghans for help in rebuilding the social fabric of Afghanistan.  

KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

09.29.2010

Story by Capt. Peter Shinn 

Combined Joint Task Force 101

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Members of the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agri-Business Development Team heard a sobering assessment of conditions in Kunar Province when they went on a fact-finding mission to the Sarkani District Center, Sept. 29. During the mission, personnel from the ADT’s Agricultural Section met with Sarkani District agricultural officials and visited two potential sites for demonstration farms in the district.

The ADT, which began its mission in Kunar province about two months ago, consistently asked Afghan officials about their needs and how the ADT can address them. They did so again during the mission to the Sarkani District, speaking with the district land reform manager, who goes only by Zargul, about the district’s most urgent needs.

“We need reconstruction assistance of everything equally in Afghanistan,” Zargul answered. “After the revolution and during the war, basic things like agriculture, education, military and culture were destroyed. We need help with all of them and will be happy to get whatever help the ADT is willing to give.”

Zargul requested assistance, not just from the ADT, but from international nongovernmental agencies as well. He also noted the relatively short duration, by Afghan standards, of ADT deployments.

“A previous ADT came and shared their opinions with us and started various projects, but because their time here was short, they did not complete them and they left,” Zargul said. “We were pleased that they sent some people to train us how to store the hay and alfalfa for our animals.”

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Don Kuehl of Jackson, Minn., led the Iowa ADT’s mission to the Sarkani District. He acknowledged Zargul’s concerns and pointed out the ADT is developing an internship program modeled on one pioneered by the Kansas ADT II, which is stationed in Laghman province.

Kuehl said they hope to train interns who will then train the Afghans.
“Our goal is that the Afghan people can operate these demonstration farms by themselves,” he said.

Kuehl emphasized the importance of implementing agricultural projects future ADTs in Kunar Province could carry forward. According to Kuehl, however, the Iowa ADT plans to launch initiatives that will be implemented by Afghan agricultural officials.

“What we are going to do is try to put an Afghan face on these projects so it is not a United States government or coalition forces project,” Kuehl said. “It’s rather an Afghan project to help the local populace.”

Kuehl did not dispute Zargul’s overall needs assessment for Sarkani District. He explained, however, that many of the needs Zargul described are beyond the scope of the ADT’s mission.

“We’re here to help the Afghan government provide better [agricultural] services to their people,” Kuehl said. “That’s our area of expertise, and that’s where our focus has got to be.”

• Date Taken: 09.29.2010
• Date Posted: 10.04.2010 16:37
• Story ID: 57490
• Location: KUNAR PROVINCE, AF