16 June 2008
Voucher Program for Afghan Farmers Encourages Agriculture
Agriculture, rural development major focuses of U.S. aid to Afghanistan
Washington -– A new $60 million voucher program will allow Afghan farmers to purchase bags of seed, fertilizer and other supplies from private-sector agricultural suppliers, enabling them to quickly increase food growth, a senior U.S. official says.
Between 70 percent and 80 percent of Afghans earn their livelihood in agriculture. “So to increase incomes, to reduce poverty, to allow for livelihoods to be encouraged in Afghanistan, focusing on agriculture is an immediate, clear step,” says Henrietta Fore, director of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Production in Agriculture program is the newest attempt to stimulate agriculture in Afghanistan, which is a top priority of the new Afghanistan National Development Strategy, Fore said at a June 13 news conference.
The voucher program is part of a $10.2 billion pledge from the United States made at the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan, held in Paris June 12. With this pledge, the United States plans to add to the $26 billion in support that has been given to Afghanistan since Taliban forces were ousted in 2001.
The Afghanistan National Development Strategy, which outlines a five-year development approach, was presented at the conference by the Afghan government along with details on how the international contributions will be used. (See “Afghan Determination Earns $20 Billion in New Aid.”)
Funds will be used to train and equip farmers to grow commercial crops rather than poppies refined into heroin; help develop new markets for crops; and build and repair roads, irrigation systems and other important infrastructure. Programs will be started to establish dried fruit- and nut-processing plants and to provide marketing advice, Fore said. Many Afghans raise livestock as well as crops, and animal health training will be provided to boost poultry and other livestock.
Other programs will dedicate resources to providing sources of credit, identifying and supporting value chains, developing new markets, improving infrastructure and removing administrative constraints that hinder business growth, she said.
The strategy’s focus on agriculture is a component of improving rural development. As agriculture flourishes, Afghanistan continues to move toward increased economic and political stability.
A transcript of a press briefing by Fore and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan William Wood is available from America.gov.
