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SHINDAND AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (July 3, 2008) - U.S. special
operations warriors serving in western Afghanistan's volatile Herat
province have a unique security-enhancing capability in their own
backyard, and it involves neither bullets nor bombs.
The Shindand Agricultural Experiment Station, located within the
perimeter of Shindand Airfield, is an attempt to provide
desperately needed agricultural skills to Afghans and an effort to
jumpstart agricultural production in the Shindand district.
The agricultural center has many positive effects for the both
the troops and the local population," a U.S. Special Forces civil
affairs team leader said. This allows us to build a rapport with
the villagers through education and employment; therefore, they are
given a reason to think twice about allowing the anti-Afghan forces
to step in and influence their lives in a negative way. The
presence of this agricultural center is a security measure in and
of itself."
The agricultural center, which officially opened in May, boasts
a greenhouse, honey house, four concrete fish ponds, a classroom
and living quarters for three scientists. Thousands of
pomegranates, grape vines, fruit trees, rose bushes and vegetables
grow around the station.
The station is intended to be used for the development of
innovative approaches to agricultural production, the demonstration
of new technologies and to teach and support local farmers," said
the station's agricultural advisor, a coalition officer who will be
the primary mentor to the three Afghan scientists who soon will be
hired to operate the station.
Thirty years ago, the advisor said, Afghanistan was an exporter
of food, with pomegranates, nuts and vegetables among the major
crops. I believe they have the capacity to once again export food,
but they need a better handle on concepts like water conservation
and adapting new technologies like drip irrigation," the
agricultural advisor said.
The intent is to hire Afghan scientists who have a wide array of
specialty skills ranging from vegetable production to fish farming.
The scientists will teach classes and conduct research at the
station and will go out into the villages and share their knowledge
with local farmers, the agricultural advisor added.
Six Afghans who work at the station provide maintenance, crop
irrigation, weeding and planting support.
The vast majority of Afghans are employed in some type of
agricultural profession, and until a legitimate way to make money
is provided, they will continue to use poppy production as a main
source of income, the agricultural advisor said. The station
provides Shindand-area farmers with a realistic alternative to
poppy production.
Roughly two dozen local farmers are taking a three-week-long
beekeeping course at the station. The material covered in the
class, which is being taught by an Afghan instructor, will enable
the farmers to manage beehives and to extract and market honey.
One local farmer said he is grateful to have an opportunity to
learn a skill as lucrative as honey production.
A beekeeping student who resides in the village of Changan said
his view is the same as that of other villagers at the course. We
came here because this is one of the best ways to make money in
Afghanistan," he said. Honey is the most expensive thing to buy at
the bazaar. We are here to support our families, economy and
country."
At the end of the course, the graduating students will receive
three beehives, bees and the equipment necessary to extract
honey.
In the future, the station also will provide courses on
agricultural skills such as poultry production and fish farming. In
addition, the agricultural advisor will work hand in hand with a
U.S. Special Forces civil affairs team in establishing a
fruit-drying warehouse and a poultry farm, which will be extensions
of the agricultural station.
Through one class at a time and one job at a time, the
agricultural station peacefully is creating a more secure Shindand
district for both the villagers who live there and the troops who
serve there.
My idea is that we should provide all Afghan people with jobs
and there will be peace," the beekeeping student said. Run this
kind of project all over the country. ... You can hold security
with weapons and rifles, but if there are enough jobs, people will
go to work and not steal or fight to support their families. There
is hope, because the economy is improving. The security of this
country depends on the jobs."
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