11/2002: Australia helps Afghanistan produce more food

MEDIA RELEASE
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
THE HON CHRIS GALLUS MP
29 Nov 2002

Australia will fund a key project to help restore production of two of Afghanistan's most important food crops - wheat and maize.

Agricultural production in Afghanistan has been severely disrupted following years of conflict and drought, and most seed reserves destroyed.

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Chris Gallus, says the $1 million project is critical to rebuilding Afghanistan's farming capacity.

It is one of six projects she announced today totalling $4 million to fund agricultural research in developing countries.

One of the world's leading international agricultural research centres - the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre - will undertake the two-year project.

Wheat is the most important food crop and maize the third largest crop grown in Afghanistan.

Mrs Gallus says the project is designed to deliver immediate benefits, as well as improving the quality of seed over the next two years.

'This project will build up wheat and maize production through the provision of seed suitable for local conditions, allowing crops to be planted and grown immediately,' she said.

Seed banks ensure that reserve stocks are available for planting in the following year should the cropping cycle be interrupted or fail completely.

The longer-term aim is to identify wheat and maize varieties best suited to Afghan growing conditions, including varieties that are resistant to diseases.

The establishment of on-farm nurseries will allow Afghan farmers to participate and share their knowledge, along with local scientists and NGOs working throughout the country.

'This type of aid involves working with local farmers to increase their knowledge and capacity to produce staple food crops,' Mrs Gallus said.

A similar project has been very successful in boosting crop production in East Timor after seed supplies of staple crops were lost in the 1999 conflict.

Other projects announced today will focus on improving the knowledge and operation of agricultural markets in Vietnam and PNG, conserving tropical fruit species in Southeast Asia, improving citrus production in Sikkim India, and improving water quality and catchment management in mixed farming and forest systems in Indonesia and Thailand.

The projects, which are funded through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) are:

• Seeds of strength: stress tolerant wheat and maize for Afghanistan - $1,000,000 over 2 years
• Strengthening agricultural market information activities in Vietnam - $398,000 over 2.5 years
• Improving the market system for fresh produce of the highlands of PNG - $399,600 over three years
• Development of advanced technologies for germplasm conservation of tropical fruit species - $753,600 over three years, with partners in Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia
• Improving subtropical citrus production in Sikkim (India) and Australia - $396,500 over three years
• The impact of changing agroforestry mosaics on catchment water yield and quality in Southeast Asia - $1,143,000 over four years, with partners from Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore

Subject to finalisation of contracts in Australia and partner countries, all of these projects are expected to begin during financial year 2002-03.

Media inquiries:
Craig Bildstien (Office of Mrs Gallus) 0407 604437
Technical inquiries: Janet Lawrence (ACIAR) 02 6217 0537