Afghanistan

CGIAR Presence in Afghanistan

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Cente for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) both hold regional offices in Kabul.

Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA)

ICARDA has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead a relief consortium to help restore Afghanistan's agriculture. In January 2002, the Consortium brought together 74 experts from 34 organizations including CGIAR centers and other research institutes, relief and development organizations, NGOs, U.S. universities, donor agencies and the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture at a meeting that resulted in the creation of the Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA). The consortium identified five key priority areas needing imrpovement:

1. Seed systems and crops
2. Soil and water management
3. Livestock
4. Feed and rangelands
5. Horticulture

All programs and projects have been implemented in collaboration and cooperation with NGOs, US Universities, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), other Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL).

Consortium delivers in Afghanistan

One of the first missions of the Future Harvest Consortium was to promote food security. In April 2002, just in time for the spring planting season, the Consortium provided 3500 tons of improved CIMMYT/ICARDA wheat seed to approximately 70,000 farmers in eight provinces. In addition, ICARDA sent 53 tons of wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea and vetch to Afghanistan for evaluation, on-station testing and on-farm seed multiplication. For the 2003 autumn planting season, the Consortium arranged the production and delivery of more than 5000 tons of wheat seed that reached more than 90,000 farmers in 11 provinces.

Providing Improved Wheat and Maize Seeds

CIMMYT has responded to Afghanistan's most urgent needs by making improved, high-quality wheat and maize seed available to farmers. The following are examples of CIMMYT's activities:

• 300 tons of quality seed locally adapted wheat variety MH-97 to 9,000 farmers in 4 provinces for 2002 fall planting
• 2.5 tons of breeder's and foundation maize seed delivered to Afghan farmers for 2003 season
• 35 wheat variety trials at 6 sites, and 24 maize trials at 8 sites, to identify additional farmers needs
• 15 researchers have attended training courses in CIMMYT, Mexico

CIMMYT activities in Afghanistan operate throught the FHCRAA and are funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), AusAID and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Researc (ACIAR).

Developing alternatives to Poppy Production

In an effort to develop economic alternatives to poppy production, the Consortium is restorating Afghanistan's gene banks, and is supporting grape, fig, olive, pomegrante, almond, mulberry, apricot, peach, orange, lemon, and almond cultivation. CIAT and ICRISAT have joined the effort to eradicate poppy production though the USAID-funded Rehabilitation of the Agricultural Markets Program (RAMP). RAMP is initially focusing on saffron and cumin cultivation as alternative crops.

Promoting Long-Term Research Capabilities

ICARDA has worked with the Consortium to rebuild six agricultural research stations in five Afghan provinces. The stations develop and evaluate new crop genotypes for distribution througout the region, and also serve as centers for small business development, crop improvement, technology transfer, and educational opportunities for farmers.

Fighting the Sunn Pest

Eurygaster integriceps, commonly known as Sunn Pest, is one of the most serious threats to wheat in Afghanistan. Sunn pest infestations can cause a 50 to 90% loss in wheat yields. ICARDA scientists are currently exploring long-term biological control options such as Beauvaria bassiana, a fungus that is toxic to Sunn pest eggs and larvae. In 2002, the Central Asian Development Group (CADG) was able prevent wheat losses of over US$12 million by using the Sunn Pest management package provided by ICARDA.