Merla: Thank you very much for posting this. The actual headline was: "Seeds key to rebuilding devastated farms". Here at Aurora Farm we have been trying for weeks to find a way to get some seeds to Afganistan, into the hands of the smallholders. Our offering would be a pittance alongside the 100s of tons of seeds this article says is needed, but ours are grown by Rudolf Steiner's methods and include healing herbs and food-for-the-soul flowers. Even this very specific article does not give us much help in getting seeds there. We've contacted Abundant Life Seed Foundation's World Seed Fund, and have had no response yet. We contacted James Twyman, the Peace Trubador, who was scheduled to go there, and received the reply that they couldn't even get James into the country, much less our seeds.
Any ideas, anyone? Seed Savers Exchange? Woody and Barbara Aurora Farm is the only unsubsidized, family-run seed farm in North America offering garden seeds grown using Rudolf Steiner's methods of spiritual agriculture. http://www.kootenay.com/~aurora -----Original Message----- From: Merla <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, February 25, 2002 8:26 AM Subject: Restoring soil and dealing with drought in Afghanistan >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] > >
