LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan — U.S. Army National Guardsmen and Air National Guardsmen from the Kansas Agribusiness Development Team, Task Force Mountain Warrior, conducted an agricultural development class at Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam's district Research and Demonstration Farm, July 12-16.
The five day class coordinated with members of the U.S. Agency for International Development, taught students from Nangarhar University more effective farming techniques so that they may teach the current and next generations of Afghan farmers.
"These classes are designed to teach future agricultural leaders modern techniques of growing, irrigating, harvesting, and preserving their crops, as well as taking better care of their livestock," said, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Roger Beekman, Olympia, Wash., native and ADT Commander.
Beekman began the instruction with classes on food storage and preservation, and sanitation.
Fellow instructors taught additional farming techniques, such as irrigation, soil management, care of livestock, preventive veterinary medicine, and pest management.
A favorite among the Afghan students was the hands-on soil management class, given by U.S. Army Capt. Jeffrey Mann, a soil scientist from Manhattan, Kan.
"The students loved to dig into and analyze the soil samples," said Mann. "They were very curious about the chemicals used to separate the nutrients from the soil and asked many questions."
Beekman said that he felt the classes would have long term positive effects on agriculture in Laghman.
"If these students take just some of these ideas and work with local farmers, who will then put them into practice, we'll see a more productive and efficient farming society in Afghanistan," said Beekman.
| Date Taken: |
07.22.2009 |
| Date Posted: |
07.22.2009 08:21 |
| Story ID: |
36648 |
| Location: |
LAGHMAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
618 |
| Downloads: |
571 |
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This work, Soldiers teach Afghanistan's next generation of farmers, by SGT Elizabeth Raney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
