Afghanistan Agriculture Extension Project II (AAEP II)

USAID’s Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project-II (AAEP-II) helps Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) deliver
effective services to rural clientele by strengthening cooperation and linkages between MAIL and the other government agencies like Directorates of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (DAILs). Herat Faculty of Ag Professor Amiri at AAEP PMTF.JPG

Herat Faculty of Ag Professor Amiri at AAEP PMTF.JPG

A key component of AAEP-II is the establishment of Provincial Model Teaching Farms (PMTF) in five core provinces (Balkh, Herat, Kabul, Nangarhar, and Parwan). Purdue leads the efforts in Herat Province. UC Davis, Washington State University, Texas A&M, and University of Maryland lead the efforts in the other targeted provinces. The PMTF provide small grants for lead farmers to replicate good practices on their farms where other farmers can learn from. The model farms give farmers an on-the-ground example of good practices, and access to trainers.

ACTIVITIES

AAEP-II has four objectives:

Help agricultural extension workers to transfer useful information and technology to farmers.
Improve rural household food security and income generation.
Improve nutrition for farm households.
Improve agricultural services for women working in the agricultural sector.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Improved access to modern agricultural research for Afghan farmers.
Create a national cadre of professionals trained in modern agricultural techniques.
Make that cadre accessible to farmers across the country, including in rural and inaccessible regions.
Improved agricultural extension services for women and men.
Increased adoption of improved agricultural practices and technologies by farmers.
Increased horticultural sales.
Better access to vegetables and diet diversity for rural poor, via increased rural incomes.
Improved contribution of women to livestock health and production on participating farms.
Improved farmer technical knowledge on agricultural production, postharvest processing, and marketing.
Reduced postharvest losses, particularly in grain and horticultural produce.

AAEP-Herat Women's Training - Aug 8, 2015 (2).JPG