Kandahar FSC Offers Services and Products Demanded by Local Farmers

Since its establishment in August 2008, the Kandahar Farm Service Center (FSC) has experienced tremendous progress. It employs more than 30 individuals and has realized tremendous sales since its establishment. The FSC provides high quality inputs and services to around 20,000 households and has provided productivity training to about 5,000 farmers.

Following the establishment of the FSC, machinery is now being used extensively to process animal feed for customers and the FSC has contracted directly with agro-dealers, MAIL and organizations such as FAO and Mercy Corps to supply animal feed.

Other machinery, including tractors and ploughs provided to the FSC through a matching grant, allowed the FSC to significantly reduce the cost of tractor services in the area, much to the excitement and appreciation of local farmers who previously did not have affordable access to mechanized labor. Within the last 2 years, Kandahar FSC has provided over 3,239 hours of machinery services to the farming community.

The FSC also offers a wide variety of high quality, certified seeds. Area farmers are now able to produce high quality vegetables and fruit while realizing improved yields. In addition to the provision of quality inputs, credit is also made available to farmers through the FSC.

Working at the FSC has enabled employees to enjoy a much better standard of living and the ability to pay for the education of their children. An FSC employee commented: “We can now afford to give our children the highest standard of education available in the area.”

The FSC owner stated, “Even with the great improvements that have been made, there are other problems we are facing. The local community is expecting more from us, especially in the fields of agriculture and animal health. We are therefore looking forward to the AFSA project’s technical assistance and new business development efforts which will help to ensure further development of services and the sustainability of the Kandahar Farm Service Center.”