Afghanistan Agricultural Inputs Project (AAIP)
Afghanistan Agricultural Inputs Project (AAIP) is one of the main projects of Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Afghanistan - MAIL.
Afghanistan is highly dependent on agriculture. For a countrywide development, supporting agriculture is vitally important. Technology in this sector has been greatly developed and upgraded. This in turns has significantly improved agriculture products. In order to increase productivity, we shall have access to new varieties of seed, new experiments and conduct research. In other word, experiments and research centers are imperative for any development. With a unique climate and geographic location, an extensive research is required to improve agriculture sector of Afghanistan. Research centers also play an important role in educating and training next generations upon whom tomorrow depends. Supporting research institutions means supporting the very life of each Afghan. We have such centers but quality matters. Research institutions and farms are not the only prerequisite to produce and preserve standard agricultural products. Quarantine stations should be built in all points where imports and exports passing through. This is mainly aimed to comply with World Trade Organization accession requirement for exporting agricultural products. Furthermore, pesticide quality control, formulation, and residue testing laboratories as well as fertilizer quality and formulation laboratories are equally important. Besides that, to meet a dynamic nature of agribusiness, a thorough review of relevant regulatory framework deems necessary.
Afghanistan founded Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA) in 1959 but not the other auxiliaries at least util 2013. Because of instability in country, the research institute still lacks professional and skilled labors, required technology, infrastructure, machinery, financial support, laboratories, proper arable land, irrigation system and innovative research programs. Besides that, Afghanistan needs proper plant protection and quarantine stations as well.
After meticulously analyzing ground reality in terms of agriculture, the government of Afghanistan identified the alarming situation and requested World Bank for cooperation. The World Bank envisioned a proper response by introducing Afghanistan Agriculture Inputs Project in mid 2013.
AAIP has targeted specific parts of agriculture. They include research farm rehabilitation, laboratories and plant protection system, capacity building, quarantine network, wheat research experiments, farm machineries and technical assistance.
AAIP has been successfully executing its plan so far with satisfactory result from both the MAIL and World Bank. For research farm rehabilitation, technical survey and architectural designs of the regional research farms completed and their infrastructures establishment is in progress. AAIP has also hired expert staff to support 10 regional research farms and Improved Seed Enterprises (ISE) both technically and operationally.
As a proactive measure, AAIP has been establishing a Complex of laboratories. The complex consists of 13 laboratories is aimed to prevent low quality pesticides, fertilizers and diagnose diseases. The project has also initiated to establish Quarantine Network system throughout the country particularly in border-crossing regions plus Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul custom and Post parcel. This already underway network aims to quarantine, control, check plant pests and diseases, and issue sanitary & phyto sanitary certificates. This directly promotes quality agricultural materials mainly exports which guarantees sustainable development of national economy.
Pertaining to the capacity building, AAIP has been funding 47 Master and 2 PhD degree scholars of ARIA, ISE, and Plant Protection & Quarantine Department (PPQD/MAIL) who are currently studying in India. It has also facilitated in-country trainings for 233 staff and international trainings for 16 ARIA staff in India. The project has planned to train around 7,000 people in-country and 165 international trainings. This project has also supplied heavy and light machineries to Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan and ISE. Furnishing and equipping of ARIA and ISE are also part of this support.
AAIP has also prioritized to thoroughly review regulatory framework of agriculture. Pesticide law and regulation have been updated and the amended versions have been processed and endorsed. Fertilization law has been drafted and now passing through due procedure to become law.
After accomplishing the goals, Afghanistan will have had fully equipped agriculture research institute. It will be effectively run by specialized and qualified staff. This could yield better outcome in terms of varieties and seeds. As a result of continuous experiments, it shall produce highly yielding and resistant wheat varieties and quality breeder seed which better suit in climate and land of Afghanistan.
Besides that, having a proper and functional quarantine system in place, any agricultural exports and imports will be fully guaranteed in terms of quality and this will boost overall export of Afghanistan particularly from agriculture perspective. Finally, successful establishment of Complex of laboratories will make us able to control any epidemic diseases. It will enhance our capability to prevent low quality products and introduce more productive pesticides and fertilizers.
Our Work:
Afghanistan Agricultural Inputs Project aims to build the institutional capacity in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) required for carrying out their public mandate in the agricultural inputs sector. First, the project will improve the technical and economic efficiency of the value chain of certified wheat seed. Second, building on the legal and regulatory framework that the project helped building during the preparation phase, the project will develop the necessary accredited facilities for plant quarantine networks and quality control of agro-chemicals. Third, guided by the results of field surveys carried out during the preparation phase, the project will design and pilot test a demand-led action plan to improve and develop market based input delivery systems for seeds and agro-chemicals – this will also include ICT applications in agricultural extension and agro-chemicals quality control. The sustainability of these interventions will be supported by capacity building programs involving civil servants, farmers and traders.
Component A. Improved Wheat Seed Production. Establishment of a commercially viable and technically efficient seed production and certification system to improve the currently unsustainable production system of certified wheat seed.
Subcomponent A1 -Varietal Selection and Production of Breeder Seed. Improve the efficiency of varietal selection and production of breeder seed in the Agricultural Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA). The project would provide land development at ARIA farms, farm buildings, farm and office equipment and training and technical assistance. Subcomponent A2. Production of Foundation and Registered Seed. Improve the efficiency of multiplication of breeder seed into foundation and registered seed at the Improved Seed Enterprise (ISE). The project would support land development on ISE farms, provide farm and office equipment for ISE operations, as well as training and technical assistance. Subcomponent A3. Coordination of Seed Sector. Support to the National Seed Board (NSB) to coordinate the seed industry; and support to the Afghanistan National Seed Organization (ANSOR) for operating costs and enhancing its facilitating and coordinating role of the private seed enterprises (PSEs).
Component B. Plant Quarantine Networks and Quality Control of Agro-chemicals. Improving safety and reliability of agricultural inputs through building and strengthening the institutional capacity and physical infrastructure for quality control of agrochemicals and plant quarantine in order to prevent marketing of banned, hazardous, sub-standard, and unreliable pesticides and fertilizers and lower the risk of introduction and spread of quarantine pests into the country. Subcomponent B1. Quality Control of Agro-chemicals. Establishment of physical infrastructure and capacity to implement the relevant laws including the Pesticides Act including (i) pesticides registration, administration, and quality control office; (ii) laboratories and equipment; (iii) pesticides poisoning management centre; (iv) fertilizer quality control inspection system. Subcomponent B2. Plant Quarantine Network. Support implementation of the Plant Quarantine Act and Regulations through establishment of physical infrastructure and capacity to prevent introduction of exotic quarantine insect pests and diseases, and facilitate export of plant materials by issuing proper quarantine/phytosanitary certificates. Activities include: (i) nation-wide insect pests and diseases survey and pests risk analysis; (ii) establishment of 13 plant quarantine stations and Insect Pests and Diseases Diagnostic facility; (iii) implementation of Pest Management Plan.
Component C. Input Delivery Systems. This component will analyze current agricultural input delivery systems and pilot improvements to improve farmers’ access. Based on analysis of data of two surveys carried out during preparation (farm-level crop production survey and agricultural inputs value chain survey) an action plan for investment activities in inputs delivery systems will be developed and piloted.
Component D. Project Management and Monitoring. Continuation and expansion of already existing Implementation Management Support Team (IMST) in MAIL tasked with M&E, MIS, Procurement, FM, implementation of ESMF and PMP. Liaising with and facilitating project activities at ARIA, ISE, NSB, PPQD, FQCAID.
Monthly Update:
01AAIP Quarterly Report 20 04 16) pdf
Multimedia:
This project is completed.