ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan, - Members of the Arkansas National Guard’s Agriculture Development Team continued their ongoing small village agriculture assessment and outreach through a program they call “Operation Know Your Neighbor” this week.
The intent of the program is to build relationships with villages within a few kilometers of the unit’s forward operating base, and provide agriculture and animal science assistance where needed.
“As Guardsmen, most of us come from small towns in Arkansas so it is pretty easy for us to understand and build rapport with these small villages,” said Air Force Lt. Col. David Sheely, agriculture team leader for the ADT.
The agriculture team of the ADT is made up of 12 specialists with educational and professional experience in agronomy, soil science, irrigation management, agriculture education, farm management, marketing, large and small animal health and public health.
“Just like back home, the Guard takes care of their local community because those are the people and area we know the best,” Sheely said.
The ADT put considerable thought into its plan as it began projecting its series of agricultural education and training services for their area of operations – Zabul Province.
“We put together our plan, our curriculum and training services that fit well with general needs throughout the area. Then we thought where better to start than in our own back yard,” said Sheely.
The typical village visit starts with greeting the local people and explaining that the ADT is different from other coalition forces operating in the area – the ADT are themselves farmers and herdsmen.
So far the ADT has visited about a dozen villages in the Qalat, ShaJoy, ShinKay and Tarnak wa Jaldek districts of Zabul Province.
In addition to assessing overall agriculture needs, the unit has assisted local para-veteranarians with animal vaccination clinics; submitted a youth agriculture education curriculum to the provincial education director and are launching a mobile agriculture seminar that will be taught at various district centers around the province in preparation for the winter wheat planting.