Special Report

Nangahar Ag Director tours Missouri State Fair

From Afghanistan to the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia – the very grateful Director of Agriculture of the Nangahar Province – was taken on a V.I.P. tour of the fairgrounds.  Director Safi Mohammad Hussein – by invitation of Senator Kit Bond – saw see up close on Friday some of Missouri’s farming and ranching techniques and the results of the latest ag research. Senator Bond, Missouri Agriculture Director John Hagler and Missouri Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse led Director Safi from the State Fair cattle barn to the FFA building to the horse barn and numerous stops in between.
“So your cattle are not this fat?” I asked. “I don’t think so,” Safi replied, “maybe a few, but not a lot. (laughter)”

Director Safi expressed deep gratitude to the people and the Guard of Missouri – at a luncheon hosted by the Missouri officials prior to the State Fair tour.  The Missouri Guard was the first to bring an Agri-Business Development Team or ADT to the Province two years ago to help farmers increase their production – to replace the growth of poppy that is turned into illegal opium. Safi declared Nangahar province now “poppy free.” And, he says wheat production in the last year has increased 25%. Still, the farmers do not produce enough food to feed all of the province’s two Million people. The biggest challenge – he says – is grain and food storage. But the ADT teams in Aghanistan from Missouri and 10 other states – including Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska – intend to change that and continue to work towards bringing more modern ag practices to the war-torn country. Senator Bond says these Guardsmen and women are – “literally, sowing the seeds of peace.”

AUDIO: Major Denise Wilkinson, MO National Guard coordinator of ADTs, and others (13:00 min., MP3)

Missourinet – National Guard Outlines Projects in Afghanistan

Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) – news release

More photos from State Fairs