PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the 2-45th Agribusiness Development Team attended a youth poultry training graduation in the Shawak District, Afghanistan, May 21.
Afghan elders and tribal members from the surrounding villages hosted the ceremony at a local boy’s school.
Each tribe from the district received an equal number of seats for the poultry training class.
“It was beneficial that the class students were split between the tribes,” said one of the tribal elders. “Agricultural projects are necessary to break the cycle of reliance on the Taliban, and now each tribe can share in the spreading of knowledge throughout the district.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Lorn McKinzie, from Depew, Okla., the senior non-commissioned officer for the ADT, said the poultry training was an important first step.
“The Afghans had a very well thought out plan of what they would like to accomplish this year in regards to agriculture, and poultry training was one of the first projects that the ADT completed for the Afghans,” said McKinzie. “We are going to work through the proper Afghan officials to do the best to accomplish sustainable farming.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Lacy Spanier, from McLoud, Okla., poultry specialist for the ADT, and Spc. Crystal Sims, from Duncan, Okla., a project manager for the ADT, presented certificates to the students for completing the training.
The eight-week-long training covered the life cycle of poultry, egg production and processing the chickens for consumption. Upon graduation, the students received 20 chickens, a bag of feed, a coop and feeders.
“It was impressive to see the wide range in the age of the students in the poultry training,” said Spanier. “This training is something that no one will be able to take away from the students.”
Afghans from the district praised the ADT for the agricultural projects the team brought to the district over the past year.
“The ADT has made life better by spreading of knowledge,” said a student. “Their projects have allowed for increased knowledge of farming methods and how to manage resources, which can be scarce at times.”
Future projects in Paktya province include animal husbandry, beekeeping, forestry management and water resource management, all of which contribute to sustainable farming.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2011 17:21 |
| Story ID: | 70912 |
| Location: | PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghan youths graduate from poultry training course, by John Sklaney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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