FAO- Afghanistan

NewsletterIssue 10 - September 2017 Contents

• B.R. Sen Award winner for 2017: Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative in Afghanistan..1

• FAO commits to provide technical assistance to Agriculture Faculty of Kabul University through ...... 1

• FAO facilitation of improves market linkages among saffron unions and association...... 2

• FAO provids a training ground to strengthen the capacity ...... 3 • FAO supports veterniary services to tackle animal ...... 3 ©FAO • Agriculture censes survey through B.R. Sen Award winner for 2017: tablets...... 4 Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative in Afghanistan On July 2017, headquarters hosted He could have achieved this with FAO commits providing the FAO Awards ceremony – a bi- the entire team’s hardwork and RAP technical assistance to ennial event to honour individuals, specialist support. Moreover, FAO Agriculture Faculty institutions and organizations that Afghanistan’s representative this have made outstanding achieve- achievements have been linked to of Kabul University ments in hunger elimination, thus the FAO reputation in the country through partnership contributing towards FAO’s mandate by DG. of a world of Zero Hunger. agreement The dedicated team of FAO Afghani- On Wednesday, 13 September 2017, Food The B.R. Sen Award is one of five stan in livelihoods, nutrition and and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on awards presented during the cer- food security made of nationals and technical collaboration with the Agriculture emony, and it specifically honours internationals should not be neglect- Faculty of Kabul University (AFKU) aims to officers who have made an excep- ed in achieving this precious award. set up a partnering collaboration between tional contribution to the advance- AFKU and FAO on joint actions and activities ment of the country of assignment. relevant to capacity building, food security and reduce hunger in Afghanistan. As one of FAO mandates is to support the Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative Government of Afghanistan in developing in Afghanistan has been awarded policies in agriculture and livestock, in the B.R. Sen Award in recognition close coordination with different sectorial of his remarkable achievements in departments and as final approach reducing expanding FAO’s impact in Afghani- poverty and contribution to food security. stan. The strengthened relations FAO will support AFKU in joint researches and publications pertaining to agriculture with government counterparts and subjects, sharing practical experiences other key partners, led to the mobili- earned by FAO and Facilitate short- term zation of substantial resources from training, internship, volunteer and fellowship a wide range of donors. programme to the students of AFKU. He received the award from the José Graziano da Silva Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organiza- tion of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, on the sidelines of the 40th FAO Conference, in early July. Al- though working in Afghanistan is

very challenging, but Tomio’s “re- ©FAO markable achievements” according to DG in advancement of this coun- B.R. Sen Award 2017 try is tangible. ©FAO/Masoda Safi ©FAO/Masoda From left to right Tomio Shichiri, (FAO Representative in Afghanistan), Hamidullah Farooqi, (Chancel- lor of Kabul University) and Wakil Ahmad “Sarhadi”, (Dean of Agriculture Faculty of Kabul University) 1 FAO signs Letter of FAO facilitation of improves market linkages among Exchange (LoE) on saffron unions and associations in Afghanistan technical cooperation with Agriculture and Veterinary Institutes of Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat, Badakhshan, Balkh, Samangan, Parwan and ©FAO Kandahar On July 2017, a joint workshop was held to tons of saffron were harvested till December link saffron local associations with other 2016, which shows 90% increase in crop yield On 13 August 2017, FAO in close collaboration with national saffron unions and committees. The com¬pared to 2015.” Said Mr. Mohammad Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock representatives of Ministries of Agriculture, Hasham Aslamy, saffron advisor to the (MAIL) and Ministry of Education signed a Letter of Irrigation and Livestock, Foreign Affairs, Higher minister. Exchange (LoE) on technical cooperation and coor- Education, Counter Narcotics, Information In continuation of his speech, he mentioned dination with agriculture and veterinary institute and Culture, Women Affairs, Afghanistan that: MAIL with the support of FAO and other of Kabul along with other seven provincial veteri- Export Develop¬ment Organization, private international agencies in 2016, distributed nary institutes. sector, and saffron associations, common 277 tons of saffron corms to farmers. As well interest groups, farmers and FAO attended as, 3 100 farmers and government officials Through signing this LoE, FAO paved the way for the workshop. were trained on saffron cultivation and strengthening agriculture and veterinary institutes The participants discussed the problems that harvest. via enhancing their vocational and practical capaci- the local associations and farmers are facing Despite the taken actions, farmers and ties and skills. Particularly, of those students cur- with the processing, exporting and marketing associations issues with saffron laboratories, rently studying within agriculture and veterinary linkages in Herat Province as mentioned processing machines, access to domestic and institutes of Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat, Badakhshan, below: international markets, and unprofessional Balkh, Samangan, Parwan and Kandahar and facili- “We have a lot of competitors in today’s team remains unsolved. tating job opportunities for those graduated from mar¬ket. Our products should be adjusted to Thus, the “Support to Agriculture and Rural the aforementioned institutes. the current demand of mar¬ket; producing Development” SARD project of FAO funded and processing of saffron needs further by Government of Luxemburg since 2015, The technical assistance of FAO will further focus attention. It is our responsibil¬ity to create ties has stablished 402 Common Interest Groups on the capacity development of veterinary insti- among saffron producers and associations.” (CIGs) consisting of 7 290 households tutes and Kochi (nomad) community focal points Said Mr. Bashir Ahmad Rashidy, head of mobilized, provided five training of trainees through training opportunities to make them more national saffron union in Afghanistan. (ToT) (182 stakeholders) in Karokh and familiar with the activities and experience on the “According to MAIL statistics, more than 6 Mt Zindajan districts of Herat Province. ground. FAO supports the agriculture and veterinary insti- Inception workshop conducts on technical assistance tutes through Building Resilience and Self-reliance of Livestock Keepers by Improving Control of Foot- to the implementation of food security and nutrition and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and other Trans Bound- ary Animal Diseases (TADs)” project funded by the strategy in Afghanistan Government of Japan. ©FAO/Marzia FAO Representative while singing the Letter of Exchange (LOE) with Kandahar Veterinary Institute ©FAO/Sayed Maqsood Hashimi ©FAO/Sayed Inception workshop on food security and nutrition at policy and planning department of MAIL

The German Government has pledged to cussed and agreed on implementation modal- support Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation ity of the project. and Livestock (MAIL) through technical assistance of FAO to address Food Security and In coordination with directorate of policy and Nutrition (FSN) policy. planning, it will strengthen FSN governance and coordination at national and local levels, In this regard, on September 2017 an incep- develop the capacities of MAIL, Provincial Ag- tion workshop was conducted to review and riculture, Irrigation and Livestock (PAILs) and finalize project’s work plan with further fo- District Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock cuss on outcomes, expected results, man- (DAILs) staff in planning, implementing and agement structure, and food security and monitoring of FSN projects on nutrition-sen- nutrition policy issues., in close consultation sitive agriculture, women mainstreaming to with sectorial directorates, project staff and FSN, drought resilient, value chains, agricul- relevant stakeholders.The participants dis- ture diversity and food safety. 2 FAO provides training ground to strengthen capacity of irrigation staff of MAIL On August 2017, Capacity Development and Institutional Strengthening (CDIS) project has conducted on the job trainings to strengthen the capacity of the staff of irrigation directorate of MAIL. They were on the Job Trainings (OJTs) throughout this training irrigation engineers were trained both on theoretical and practical bases ,for practical learning, training participants were taken to the training sites of Deh Sabz and Mir Bachakot Districts of Kabul Province. These two irrigation schemes were selected as pilot projects for construction and learning purpose. The aim of the training was to provide opportunity for the staff of Irrigation Directorate of MAIL to learn and understand the entire project cycle of canal construction in a practical and visible way. The process includes survey, design, implementation, maintenance and monitoring of the project through on the job training. The aforementioned training enabled

participants to determine the quality of ©FAO construction materials, soil profile, aggregate characteristics, concrete testing, steel usage FAO Field staff during veterinary services in Dehsabz district of Kabul, Province in construction, lab reports of construction materials and appropriate materials for construction works. This training course Sherzai is a 35 years old man who has opened his help and support. also benefited participants to understand a new veterinary field unit in Dehsabz Dis- on how to know the characteristics of useful trict of Kabul Province and is functional since MAIL/FAO dairy industry development, has materials for construction projects. 2015. been running and functional since the year After participating of training, they are able 2014 and will be continued to 2019, the to effectively do site selection, conduct Mr. Sherzai Said that he has been providing said industry is working in three provinces feasibility study, and also do the diagnostic service to around 600-800 farmers and as including Kabul, Parwan and Logar in Af- analysis. Moreover, they know the process well treating almost 60-80 livestock per week, ghanistan to strengthen the selected value of establishing irrigation association, He added that his net profit is around 36 000 chains for dairy, high-value Animal feed and technical survey, canal design, procurement, AFs which is equal to 527 USD per month livestock to provide food and economic se- construction, operation and maintenance since he has opened. He is also providing curity for rural citizens. and handover of the scheme. veterinary service to around18-20 surround- ing villages and he is able to travel to these villages where farmers and herders needs for

©FAO/Reshtin MAIL Irrigation engineers during monitoring the Canal construction progress in Mirbacha Koot, Kabul

FAO supports veterinary services to tackle animal disease and save herds and increase milk production and income Afghanistan dairy industry development project conducted a technical training and provided equipment’s to veterinary doc- tors. The training provided theoretical and practical instruction on animal health care to improve herd health and productivity and increase household income.

3 FAO practices tablets in census survey towards e-agriculture in Afghanistan

Caption: Extension workers are practicing the usage of tablets in census survey at Sha- kardara District of Kabul Province ©FAO/Sayed Maqsood Hashim i On August 2017, Ministry of Agriculture, targeting, coordinating efforts and as ease our work. I expect I can do 20 Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) with design appropriate interventions at households survey per day.” the technical assistance of FAO has the district level that might meet the Said Ahmad Roeen, extension worker in conducted household census survey in requirements of households within the Shakardara District of Kabul Province. 50 districts of six provinces. context of resource and their command.

The household census and sample size “It is the first time I have a tablet in my Inception workshop on development of surveys provided agriculture statistical hand. It is amazing while it works same an effective extension system in Bamyan information to the government, national as mobile and has the same options and Province and international stakeholders. work the same functions. It saves our time, keeps our data confidential as well The survey is designed to cover approximately 439 946.0 households (2.6 million) individuals across 50 districts in the country. Surveyors use tablets during the survey to collect data and there is a software embedded in the tablet through which it is directly linked to the Management Information System (MIS) of Directorate of Statistics and is properly recording the collected data and analyzing it for future programme, planning and designing. FAO distributed a total of 250 tablets, 50 3Gs, 250 power banks, 282 motorbikes and 510 bags including a package of stationery for conducting survey to a total of 510 newly hired surveyors (292 extension workers and 218 new graduates) these individuals were hired on the proper usage of tablets and survey formats. It was the first time for extension workers using tablets which helped improving their capacities.

Contact: Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Jamal Mina, Opposite of Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0) 202 510 427 4 FAO Fax: + 93 (0) 202510428 - Email:[email protected] - www.fao.org/afghanistan I8774EN/1/03.18 ©FAO 2018