Northern Afghanistan - In contract with IFDC (International Center for Soil Fertility & Agricultural Development, funded by the USDA), JDA is continuing its agricultural research in northern Afghanistan. IFDC’s FARMS project is underway in Afghanistan to provide farm trials with a variety of crops including watermelon, cucumber, tomato, flax, sesame, and sunflower. JDA has been partnering in this work by doing such experiments on its research farm just outside of Mazar-i-Sharif.

JDA has tested the watermelon and tomato crops for sugar content, seed quality, and interest of local farmers. Currently there are safflower (70 varieties), lettuce (26 varieties), spinach, onion, chick pea (year two of a three-year experiment period), carrot (Indian and Korean varieties) and strawberries growing on JDA’s research farm.

As the weather turned cold last winter, JDA’s local staff prepared a winter green house on the farm. The green house was home to varieties of lettuce and other new greens such as mazuna and tot soi, as well as tomatoes, cucumber and peppers. The green house is a key feature of farmer education. Last winter was the coldest winter in 40 years for Afghanistan, and the greenhouse was able to maintain a successful crop. Green houses have proven to be a great winter alternative for farmers.

The main purpose for growing these crops is to find out which varieties are suitable to the soil and climate of northern Afghanistan. JDA held a field day to invite local farmers to view the successful crops and learn about the techniques related to growing them. Farmers were be able to sample the crops on JDA’s farm, and take seeds of the crops they would like to try on their own land. Due to the success of last winters greenhouse, JDA plans to build more greenhouses for future commercial use.