Implementation Progress for the Fall Wheat Campaign

As the critical food security crop for Afghanistan, the fall 2002 USAID/ICARDA/IFDC wheat seed campaign distributed nearly 5,000 tonnes of improved wheat seed to more than 90,000 farmers in eleven provinces. Wheat growers typically produce their own seed, purchasing less than 10% of their annual seed requirements. Afghanistan produces wheat on 4 to 8 million hectares annually. Weather permitting, this distribution of high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat is conservatively estimated to produce more than 100,000 tonnes of wheat in 2003. If all of this seed were planted In fall 2003, the wheat seed requirements of the nation of Afghanistan would be satisfied.

Since this distribution of seed does not reach several provinces, ongoing wheat efforts will be required. Also, while wheat is a key crop for national food security, it is a marginal income producer for small farmers. Alternative crops and cropping systems are needed.

The yield per jerib is 80 bags at 30 Afghanis each. The price of the whole straw is 100 Afghani. Thus, the total income will be 2500 Afghani per jerib; 1150 Afghanis less than the cost of production. As food and grain aid continues to pour into the region, wheat prices are expected to drop even lower.

ICARDA and IFDC are working to improve farmer wheat incomes by conducting fertilizer trials to determine how to maximize production and minimize inputs. Fertilizer tests are being coordinated with UMCOR in Parwan, and KRA in Takhar and Kunduz. Ongoing USAID support for irrigation development and improvement will also contribute to higher incomes.

The Economic Solution: Alternative Crops and a Private Seed Sector for Afghanistan Farmers

Alternative crops and cropping systems will improve rural enterprises and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates which are partly due to poor nutrition. To meet the nutritional needs of mothers and children, USAID/ICARDA is increasing farmer crop choices. Potatoes, vegetables, food legumes, forages and feedgrains are needed to support food, dairy, meat and hide production.

Vegetable seed production has been initiated at the Kunduz agricultural station with carrots, onions, and turnips. Rice (69 tonnes) and mung bean (30 tonnes) seed with appropriate fertilizer is being distributed in Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar provinces. The CIMMYT maize program is distributing improved open pollinated maize populations through the rehabilitated agricultural stations and FAO in Western Afghanistan. Other stations in appropriate agro-ecologies are producing horticultural nurseries of almond, peaches, pears, apricots, walnut, apple, mulberry, olives, figs, pomegranates, lemons, grapes, and oranges. These nurseries will be self-sustaining through the sale of seed and saplings to Afghan farmers.

The ICARDA/CIP seed potato program has produced, graded and treated a total of 30 tonnes of virus-free adapted seed potatoes and tested new varieties. This seed potato will be distributed to 60 farmers in three provinces. This seed potato production project will produce disease-free seed potato during the winter season in Nangarhar for production in the spring season in Kabul, Warak, and Bamyan. A farmer seed association has been established for self-sustaining, virus-free seed production and to improve marketing. This program is currently being supported by a USAID-supported short term high impact project.

The five agricultural stations that have been rehabilitated through the USAID/ICARDA program provide the base from which cropping and production alternatives are being distributed to farmers in the Eastern half of Afghanistan. Horticultural crop nurseries enable farmers to replant orchards with excellent economic water-use efficiency and the potential for value-added production for regional and global markets. Alternative crops and cropping systems provide employment opportunities and market niches that the major commodities cannot provide.

ICARDA staff members selected leading community farmers in seven provinces to initiate local private seed production. A total of 25 Village-based seed enterprises (VSEs) have been initiated in Nangahar, Wardak, Kabul, Kapisa, Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar provinces. Each farmer-leader heads a team of ten farmers who will produce seed in the selected districts.

The VSE system is key to the development of a robust and stable rural economy. Linking increased agricultural productivity and increasing incomes by producing effective linkages between producers, processors and markets is the cornerstone of the village-based program.