Scientists to Help Afghan Farmers

Thursday, February 14, 2002 12:01 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Agricultural scientists and relief organizations are working together to restore farming in Afghanistan by replenishing seed stocks and improving irrigation systems.

The U.S. and Canadian governments have pledged $12 million to the project. Additional donors are being sought.

``Agriculture in Afghanistan is going to need a lot of help,'' said Adel El-Beltagy, director general of the International Center for Research in the Dry Areas, a research facility in Syria. ``Our mission is to ensure that agricultural reconstruction efforts are based on the best practices science has to offer.''

The Syria-based center is part of an international consortium, known as Future Harvest, of 16 agricultural research centers.

The Afghanistan project will focus on restoring production of livestock and fruits and vegetables, as well as land and water management.

Afghanistan had been wracked by several years of drought and constant war, even before the U.S. military attacks began last fall, and farms and roads are riddled with land mines. Farmers also quit growing fruits and vegetables in favor of more-lucrative opium poppies.

The project's goal is to provide 125,000 tons of seed within three years.

Avtar Kaul, an agricultural adviser with the CARE relief organization, said the project will be unique because it is being led by scientists.

``All too often, well-meaning development agencies have intervened only to find out that what they're doing is technically inappropriate under local circumstances,'' he said. ``We need to make sure that recovery efforts are based on a real understanding of Afghan agriculture so that they meet the real needs of affected communities.''