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Entomology Professor Rick Foster to assist in Indiana Guard unit's agriculture training for Afghan mission

By Beth Forbes
Purdue News
November 13, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A unit of specially selected Indiana National Guard members will be trained next week at Purdue University for deployment to Afghanistan as agricultural educators.

The mission, scheduled to begin in January, will support the military operation there by providing the Afghan people advice that could help them improve their agribusiness operations. The 28-member unit will have training in a variety of agriculture-related areas including irrigation, crop production and pest management, soils assessment, livestock management, food storage, and marketing and nutrition.

"Our mission in the province of Khowst, Afghanistan, is to help Afghan farmers and agribusinesses improve their lives by improving agricultural productivity," said Col. Cindra Chastain, deputy commander and a Purdue animal sciences alumnus. "These National Guard soldiers are better suited for this mission because our soldiers have civilian jobs and experiences in agriculture."

"The idea is modeled after Extension as it was developed in this country," said Kevin McNamara, professor of agricultural economics and leader of Purdue's efforts to work with Afghanistan's Kabul University in improving its agricultural education program.

McNamara said that just as the United States successfully applies university research to support and improve peoples' lives through Extension, the goal of this group is to help the Afghans enhance their standard of living.

"This mission ties into and is a part of the strategic goal in Afghanistan - helping the country move towards economic and political stability. We are thrilled to be partnering with Purdue in this mission," Chastain said.

"Afghan agriculture is quite different from that in the United States, so even though most of the unit have agricultural experience, we are preparing them for situations they will face there," McNamara said.

For example, Afghan farmers spread wheat by hand to plant it. U.S. farmers no longer do that, so "broadcast planting" will be covered in a session on planting wheat and corn.

McNamara said the typical farm in Afghanistan is about one or two acres in size. The farmers use oxen to pull the plow and dry their crops in the sun.

The Indiana National Guard unit will be deployed for approximately one year, with plans to send additional units over the next two years.

Indiana is one of five states preparing units with agriculture experience. The Indiana unit also is working with Indiana University for language and cross-cultural preparation. The unit will be able to connect back to both Purdue and I.U. for information during its deployment.

Sources: Kevin McNamara (765) 494-4236, mcnamara@purdue.edu

Cindra Chastain, 812-526-1499, cindra.chastain@us.army.smil.mil

Deidra Thombleson, press officer, deedra.thombleson@us.army.mil  

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

Note to Journalists: A media availability is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 18) at the Beck Agricultural Center on Highway 52 west of West Lafayette. Reporters will receive a brief update of the program and be able to ask questions. Following the availability, media are invited to watch and shoot photos or video as members of the unit receive soils assessment training. For more information, contact Beth Forbes at (765) 494-2722, forbes@purdue.edu