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 Iowa Guardsmen learn the ways of Afghan farmers By Chief Master Sgt. Don Kuehl
                Iowa National Guard
 KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, - Staff Sgt. Ben Groth and I recently performed a quality assurance-quality control check on a canal cleaning project in the Sarkani District Center in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province. During our visit, we obtained measurements of the proposed demonstration farm land and green house area, but also learned a lot from the local farmers we met. When we arrived, we noticed that several local people were working the farm plots in the proposed area.  The farmers who were working on the farm land had a tractor and field cultivator in one of the plots, which contained a seed bed. We stopped and introduced ourselves to three of the eight farmers who farm this land.  We watched as one of the farmers hand-spread urea fertilizer on the plots to be seeded.  The three farmers were preparing to seed alfalfa on the tilled plots.  When we visited with them they told us that they used the production from this land as a source of forage for their livestock.  They seemed very pleased that we were interested in what they were doing. We asked about the fertilizer, the cost and availability.  They said that fertilizer is available but the cost kept them from buying what they needed for the planted crops.  Their fall harvest was poor due to the lack of fertilizer.  They depend on the crops for the forage needs of their livestock.  We asked about the alfalfa seed, if it was certified seed and what the cost of the seed was.  They told us that it was certified seed and that it was very expensive.  They had gotten this seed through a non-governmental organization (they didn’t know who) or they wouldn’t have been able to afford it. Again we watched as the farmers spread out a cloth on the ground, slowly mixing the treated alfalfa seed with soil, then forming a basket with their shirt for the soil and seed mixture, they hand-spread the material on the prepared seedbed.  After hand-seeding the plot, they used the tractor and tiller to incorporate the seed into the ground. These farmers were extremely happy to see us and want to sit down and visit with us at a meeting with the district sub-governor and agricultural extension director.  As are most farmers, they were proud of what they were doing and excited to show us and explain to us their method of seeding.  They told us again that they needed good seed and additional fertilizer for their crops.  They have adequate water from the irrigation canal but lack the funding for the crop inputs without outside help.  And without that help, these farmers won’t be able to feed their livestock. We left knowing that we had learned valuable lessons. Groth and I are both looking forward to meeting these and other farmers from the Sarkani district again.
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