GREENHOUSE AND PERSUAP WORKSHOPS INCREASING YIELDS

The USAID-funded Afghanistan Farm Service Alliance (AFSA) program, implemented by CNFA, in collaboration with the Farm Service Center Association of Afghanistan (FSCAA) recently completed eleven workshops on Greenhouse Development and the Safe Use and Application of Crop Protection Products. These workshops targeted Farm Service Center (FSC) owners and technical staff, DAIL and NGO extension staff, local agribusiness owners and selected provincial farmers across seventeen provinces, and provided the knowledge and skills to increase farmer’s yield, quality of crops and overall income.

The three Greenhouse workshops taught 47 FSC owners and extension staff on quality production inputs, plant nutrition, and construction and ventilation techniques. These workshops also provided information and techniques for developing irrigation systems, handling plant viruses and provided the attendees with tools and practical instruments to implement trainings in their own specific FSC with community farmers and agriculturalists. Leveraging greenhouse technology in Afghanistan is key to extending a farmer’s productive seasons into the colder months which traditionally have proven a difficult time to produce quality, income generating crops. Ahmad Shah a FSC employee who attended the workshop, explains, “Greenhouses are a new technology for us; because of the workshop I not only know how to increase my own yield through greenhouse technology, but I am also able to train others how to properly use greenhouses as well.”

The 146 participants who attended the PERSUAP workshops were trained on Safe Use and Application of the Crop Protection Products. If not trained properly, Crop Protection Product misuse can have detrimental effects on crop quality and safety, the personal health of the farmer and farming communities. The workshop taught attendees about proper protective clothing, cleaning and maintenance of the product, transportation, and health and safety techniques. One training participant, Sharif, explained, “Because of the workshop I now know how to avoid the potentially harmful side effects of the crop protection products being used on my farm”. In addition to training the individual attendees, these workshops provided teaching materials and tools for the FSC owners and extension staff to teach their wider farming community, extending the impact of the workshops across Afghanistan. They will be able to advise their customers how to utilize the correct inputs and techniques to maximize yields and income in a safe and responsible manner.