I was so glad to see that BD is active in India. Are there any BD farming aid groups that could help in Afghanistan? (see article below) I would think that the radionics people could be very helpful in a drought. Some good BD food might go a long way toward easing all the anger and anguish in that area of the world. Are there organic projects like the one in India in developing and least developed countries?
> * * * * * * * * * * * * > > Financial Times > > ASIA-PACIFIC: Seeds are key to rebuilding devastated farms: A massive plan > to replace seeds lost to drought and war has been unveiled, writes John Mason > Financial Times; Feb 14, 2002 > By JOHN MASON > > The long-term recovery of Afghanistan's farming, devastated by three years > of extreme drought and 23 years of war culminating in the recent US bombing > campaign, depends on one thing above all else - seeds, say leading food > scientists. > > Plans to launch the largest-ever programme to replace a region's lost and > damaged seed stocks were announced yesterday by a consortium of respected > international agricultural research institutes and others. The consortium's > goal is to create the critical mass of seed needed for Afghan farmers to > then produce their own seed supplies and so achieve food security. Some > 125,000 tonnes of seed are required, a target that could be reached within > three years, say scientists involved. > > Adel El-Beltagy, director-general of the Syrian-based International Centre > for Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), which is leading the effort, said: > "Right now, the seed situation in Afghanistan is critical. We believe the > majority of the country's seeds were lost when farmers planted the 2001 > crop. When the rains failed for the third year in a row, it put an end to > their ability to stay on the land." > > The trick the scientists are trying to pull off, under difficult > circumstances, is to build the foundations for a long-term, sustainable > recovery. What they hope to avoid are the short-term emergency responses of > some development agencies that often fail because they are technically > inappropriate. > > "If Afghanistan is going to get back on its feet, and if we are going to > diminish dependency on food aid programmes, development programmes are > going to have to make sure that they provide Afghan farmers with > appropriate technology and policies," said Mr El-Beltagy. > > However, launching such a programme in the current climate in Afghanistan > has risks, Mr El-Beltagy concedes. Uncertain political stability outside > the capital of Kabul and minefields and other physical legacies of years of > war provide constraints. "Mines are risks we are well aware of. After the > temporary Afghan government, there will be a permanent government. We will > link up with them and try to have a proper dialogue. But there are risks, > yes," he said. Although Dollars 12m has already been committed to the > project, further funding will also be required, he said. > > Seeds will include those of traditional varieties of wheat, maize, barley, > chick peas and lentils, which have been used for centuries. > > In 1992, Afghanistan's national agricultural gene-bank, which stored seeds > and other plant material, was destroyed during the civil war. However, > samples of some, if not most, of these seeds will be replenished from > gene-banks run by the consortium's members, such as the Mexico-based wheat > research institute. > > Restoring the seed supply is seen as so critical that 75 per cent of the > consortium's budget will be spent in this area. Other money will go on > improving goat and sheep herds, almost half of which have been lost, > restoring soil and water management and reintroducing native fruit and > vegetable crops. > > The work will involve working closely with other agencies to address other > issues, such as the shortage of men able to rebuild and work the land. > > Abdul Raman Manan, former director of Afghanistan's national agricultural > research service, said the country had been self-sufficient in food until > the Soviet invasion. > > "Agriculture is at the heart of our culture and our history. Over the > centuries, Afghan farmers domesticated 18 important food and horticultural > crops, including wheat, peas, carrots, melons, apples and pistachios," he > said. Not only did the country have its own seed and credit systems, it > enjoyed a reputation in neighbouring countries for its superior fruit, he > said. www.ft.com/afghanfuture > > Copyright: The Financial Times Limited 1995-2002 > > --- > [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] > > ============================================================ > How to Use this Mailing List > ============================================================ > > You received this e-mail as a result of your registration on the wto-info mailing >list. > > To unsubscribe, please send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the >message type: > unsubscribe wto-info > > For a list of other commands and list options, please send email to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > In the body of the message type: > help > > Please direct content questions about this list to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Please direct technical questions about this service to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus]
