by Capt. Peter Shinn

Going to Afghanistan for a year to improve that nation’s ability to feed its people might be viewed as an adventure, a sacrifice, or in the case of Sgt. John Larsen, a calling. Larsen is deploying as part of the Missouri National Guard’s Agri-Business Development Team IV. But this is not his first deployment with an ADT. Larsen, a hydrologist, also deployed with Missouri ADT II.

“He does like Afghanistan,” said Master Sgt. Stephen Bradley, the Noncommissioned-Officer-in-Charge of the Missouri ADT IV Ag Section. More importantly, Bradley pointed out, is that Larsen’s previous experience in Afghanistan has already proven invaluable.

“Oh, definitely,” Bradley said. “He knows the area. He knows the people. He knows their attitude, their wants. So, yeah, he’s been very, very helpful.”

In his civilian career, Larsen has worked with U.S. farmers on irrigation issues. He’s done the same during his military career with Afghan farmers. And according to Larsen, there’s simply no comparison between U.S. agriculture and its Afghan counterpart.

“There’s no tractors,” Larsen said. “The best they can do is maybe an oxen if they have a little bit of money. Everything is done by hand.”

Every Missouri ADT has gone to Nangahar Province, in east central Afghanistan. Agricultural production there includes wheat, corn, vegetables and citrus, all water-intensive crops. When Larsen was last there he spent most of his time building check-dams to capture some of the water that runs through Nangahar. And he intends to do more of the same in the year ahead.

“If it works, stick with it,” Larsen said. “The more water we can get these people the more prosperous they’re going to be. They’re an agricultural province and the more I can get them the better they’ll be on that.”

Missouri ADT IV is expected to arrive in Afghanistan’s Nangahar Province in August. The primary focus of the ADT will be improving the ability of Afghan agricultural extension agents to deliver services to the farmers of Nangahar.