Afghanistan - Country Office

1. Overview
2. Country Strategy
3. Priorities
4. Key Program Managers
5. Current Projects
6. Concluded Projects
7. Achievements
8. Relevant Publications
9. Country News and Stories
10. AusAid and Other Briefs
11. Fellowship Statistics

Country Office

Key indicators and performance for 2006-07

Indicator: At least five Iraqi scientists receive in-depth training in integrated pest management (IPM)

Performance: Five Iraqi scientists trained by CSIRO and QLD Dept of Primary Industries and Fisheries for 5 months of intensive IPM

Indicator: CIMMYT wheat lines identified with improved yield and/or disease resistance to local lines in field trials in Afghanista

Performance: Eighty-two promising bread wheat lines advanced based on both yield and disease resistance as evaluated in multi-site yield trials 

Achievements from the 2006-07 Annual Report

Despite the logistical difficulties and the difficult security situation in some parts of Afghanistan, the project ‘Wheat and maize productivity improvement in Afghanistan’ has progressed successfully. In collaboration with researchers in the Agricultural Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA), 126 promising wheat and maize varieties have been identified, six of which are potential candidates for official release nationally. Promising varieties, as well as appropriate crop management practices, are being demonstrated on-farm in collaboration with a strong network of NGOs and government partners.

There is strong anecdotal evidence that the varieties introduced by the project are being adopted. This is particularly evident in Alingar district in the Laghman province, where the project works in collaboration with farmers and the Norwegian Project Office, and where a double cropping of improved wheat and maize varieties introduced by the project is potentially beneficial to the farmers. Such a combination improves the productivity of wheat-based cropping systems and provides farmers with a viable option to replace poppy production. Finally, the project has made good progress towards developing a strong core team of well trained national scientists working in the public, private and NGO sectors.

Afghanistan is also involved in the ACIAR-supported activities at CIMMYT, ICARDA and PBIC-Sydney University to ensure productivity and food security through sustainable control of wheat yellow rust in Asia.