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PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team III, attached to the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Roots of Peace, a non-profit organization, donated hundreds of fruit trees to local farmers at the Khenj District Center, Afghanistan, May 9.
The program donated trees to establish six cherry and three apricot orchards that will serve as nurseries. These nurseries, controlled by the Panjshir Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, will provide saplings for Afghan farmers and assist in establishing the planned 600 cherry and 100 apricot orchards, over the next two years.
The ROP and Kentucky ADT III, in partnership with the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock, also provide workshops at the nurseries that teach Afghan farmers proper growing techniques and the use of pesticides and equipment to improve their growth capacity.
The people gave the program high praise and said they hope efforts will continue.
“The people of Panjshir are eager to work with the ROP and Kentucky ADT program,” said Abdul Sabir, the Panjshir DAIL extension agent, through an interpreter. “They love to work on agriculture, and hope that even after this closing ceremony that both organizations will continue to promote agriculture in Panjshir province.”
The Panjshir Valley currently survives on subsistence farming. The program, through the use of high-value crops like cherries and apricots, is designed to turn the valley’s basic needs-based field into a source of income for the farmers.
“Afghanistan does not have a lot of industry or other types of jobs so agriculture is the main source of income for many of its peoples,” said Sabir. “If we can increase the development of agriculture in our province and in the country, then we can help the people to make more money and support their families better.”
The Kentucky ADT works closely with the MAIL and his provincial and district agents ensuring they will be able to manage the program long after coalition and international aid organizations have left the country.
“The ADT along with the PRT has a unique ability to bring knowledge and experience to the Afghan people through our joint efforts. We hope we can assist Panjshir to be one of the first provinces to transition,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Blake Settle, the Panjshir Kentucky ADT commander from Louisville, Ky. “We are bringing everything together and this is the time for the Panjshiries to take the lead in their province.”
The Kentucky ADT is also working with Panjshir farmers to create an international market for the fruits and vegetables they produce.
The first step in this process is creating a brand that indentifies the products as being from Panjshir.
“The Panjshir Valley has a very rich agriculture base and produces very high-quality products. People already recognize this quality in many of the Afghan markets, including those in Kabul,” said Settle. “We are currently looking at opportunities to brand the name of Panjshir on those products and spread them out into other markets in foreign countries.”
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2011 16:59 |
| Story ID: | 70481 |
| Location: | PANJSHIR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, ADT, non-profit org help orchards take root in Panjshir, by SPC James Wilton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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