Strengthening Extension in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Strengthening Extension Skills of Young Professionals in Afghanistan and Pakistan

AGNR has partnered with several U.S. universities to train Afghan and Pakistani Extension professionals in improving their agricultural knowledge and their outreach to farmers.

USDA has provided funding for workshops by the five universities -- University of California at Davis, University of Maryland, Purdue University, Iowa State University, and Washington State University. The University of Agriculture, Faisalbad, and Nangarhar University have scheduled a series of workshops in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to teach trainees.

Goal

Strengthen the extension and delivery systems of Afghanistan and Pakistan to better meet the needs of farmers and the rural poor.

Objectives

1.    Strengthen technical skills in priority areas within a context for extension training.
2.    Provide an extension framework for subsequent implementation
3.    Highlight the need for information source-extension linkages

This brochure on soybeans was produced by a team of workshop trainees. The trainees will provide brochures like these to their farm clients, which explain best practices and conditions for growing crops.

All of the workshops will focus on improving agricultural knowledge, such as diagnosing pest problems, cultivation and increasing food production, and improving Extension outreach skills.

Workshop 1: University of Agriculture, Faisalbad, Pakistan

The first workshop was held in June 2011 in Pakistan. Trainees learned about:

Needs assessment for Crop Improvement
Conducting Evaluations
Validating Extension Information
Elements of a Successful and Rewarding Extension Program
Orchard Management
Post-harvest Physiology and Management of Fruit and Vegetable Crops
The Art and Science of Diagnosing Plant Problems
Eutrophication
Designing a Crop Rotation Plan with Farmers

The trainers also took a field trip to an agricultural station and a water buffalo dairy farm.

Workshop 2: Nangarhar University, Afghanistan

Workshop 2 was held in November 2011, with over 30 Afghan and Pakistani trainees attending. They discussed issues that farmers face and how to address them, such as obtaining improved seeds,

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Afghan Extension trainees with U.S. Extension educators, at the second workshop, held in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.

the high cost of fertilizer and lack of irrigation. In one exercise, the trainees developed Extension materials that they can later use, such as producing a factsheet on growing wheat.

They also learned about animal and pest management. At right, Dave Myers (UMD-AGNR) talks about vegetable production technology with some trainees.

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For more information, contact AJL, Coordinator

Last updated: 12/12/2011