slim To hmans who: 18 December 2001 Text: Major U.S. Grain Shipment Headed to Afghanistan (115,000 tons of wheat is largest shipment in memory) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is dispatching two ships from West coast ports of the United States to Afghanistan carrying a combined total of 115,000 metric tons of bulk, soft white wheat, according to a December 17 USAID press release. "This is the largest combined shipment of food aid from the U.S. to the Afghan people in recent memory," said Bear McConnell, director of USAID's Central Asia Task Force. "These shipments of food aid will help feed over 7 million hungry Afghans for a month, and will save the lives of many people who are dangerously malnourished." The cost of the wheat and its transport amounts to almost $23 million. US-ARC will work to rebuild the farming capacity of the community. Removal of landmines and soil detoxification must be a national priority. US-ARC will introduce irrigation techniques and support the restoration of the irrigation system to provide essential water to crops and livestock. A livestock inventory will be undertaken and a plan devised to increase their numbers. Domestic wheat and seed varieties will be provided to the farmers for the spring and winter planting seasons. More efficient and diversified crop and livestock production will be promoted, as will horticultural production appropriate to the local environment. US-ARC will support farmers with the appropriate tools, machinery, fertilizer and vaccines (for livestock) to increase production. We will work with the farmers on issues relating to river basin and watershed management, soil and water conservation, forestry, pasture management, and groundwater recharge management. Insect management will be re-established for crop-damaging insects, especially for the locusts that devour crops in the spring When designing agriculture projects, US-ARC will seek the collaboration of local farmers, and establish partnerships with other non-governmental organizations that have successful track records in this area. US-ARC will work towards community participation at each phase of the project from area elders to producers and merchants. We will promote activities and enterprises that involve rural women in sustainable small livestock production and farming. We will work with farmers to improve their access to agricultural markets both locally and nationally. We will introduce cooperative farming approaches to encourage farmers to use the land more efficiently to produce more agricultural and livestock products thereby strengthening the community's farming capacity.
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