IMC Delivers US Donation of Wheat Seed to Afghan Farmers

April 12, 2002—In order to provide Afghan farmers with the seeds to grow the food that will help feed a hungry nation and re-build a shattered agricultural system, IMC is distributing 2,175 metric tons of emergency wheat seed and 1,958 metric tons of fertilizer to 46,300 families in 4 provinces and 9 districts. This represents more than half the US donation of wheat.

"This seed distribution is another way IMC saves lives and livelihoods in Afghanistan," said Nancy Aossey, IMC President and CEO.

In an effort to get the seed to farmers as soon as possible, IMC has distributed approximately 700 metric tons in 5 days, working in cooperation with International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. The areas reached include the Central provinces of Parwan, Wardak, Kapisa and Ghazni. The seed will be used in the approaching spring and autumn growing seasons.

In preparation for the planting, Afghan farmers prepare the fields with oxen. After distribution by IMC staff from IMC warehouses in the region, the farmers will plant the US-donated seed. The harvest of this wheat will help feed a population that has suffered from war, a three year drought and near famine conditions.

Agriculturally self-sufficient until the Soviet Union invasion in 1978, Afghanistan's agricultural production system has been completely disrupted.

According to ICARDA, restoring seed supply is critical for many reasons, beyond the immediate planting of crops for food. The seed supply is the foundation for other rebuilding efforts, like regaining the desired population of the once-thriving livestock for consumption and trade by Afghan families.