Agribusiness team visits Paktiya women’s center, university, farm
ISAF: KABUL, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the 2-45th Agribusiness Development Team conducted a multiple-stop mission to Paktiya University, a women’s center and a farm in Gardez, Paktiya province, Dec. 4.
The first stop of the mission was the women’s development center. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jill Graham, agribusiness team administrative officer, met the director of the women’s center and discussed the upcoming installation of a greenhouse.
The director also wanted help from the team with poultry and beekeeping training, which the team plans to address in the coming weeks.
“The women’s center director would like the profits from the greenhouse to be used to help women in the province,” said U.S. Army Spc. Mandy Kennedy, agribusiness team education specialist.
The team also handed out hand-cranked radios to Afghans at the center.
“Radio is the primary means of communication in Afghanistan”, said Sfc. Kevin Fromm, agribusiness team information operations non-commissioned officer.
The second stop on the mission was Paktiya University, where the team assessed the progress made over the past few months.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Altebaumer, agribusiness team agricultural team chief, and Kennedy met with the university chancellor of Paktiya to discuss improvements the team wished to help university officials make over the coming months.
“Some of the future projects at the university include generator power, Internet access throughout the buildings, a greenhouse, a faculty exchange program and incorporating female students,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy talked to the faculty about the university admission testing that recently took place. This year more than 30 Afghan females took the test for admission alongside male students.
“Coed testing is something that did not occur during the Soviet or Taliban rule,” Kennedy said. “It is a positive sign of improvements made in the province over the past few years.”
The last stop of the day was at a local farm.
Projects currently under construction include a multipurpose building, generator building, a perimeter security fence and electrical and sewer project. U.S. Army Sfc. Billy Payne, agribusiness team project manager, gauged the improvements made since the last visit a few weeks ago.
“The contractors have made steady progress at the farm,” Payne said. “The [agribusiness development team] will work with the contractors to address specific issues that have been encountered during the projects.”
“The mission will allow the [agribusiness development team] to increase agricultural production across the province, maximizing the resources that the [agribusiness development team] is able to provide and advise Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials in order to strengthen the relationship between the Afghan government and the local population,” said Payne.
The team also handed out hand-cranked radios to Afghans at the center.
“Radio is the primary means of communication in Afghanistan”, said Sfc. Kevin Fromm, agribusiness team information operations non-commissioned officer.
The second stop on the mission was Paktiya University, where the team assessed the progress made over the past few months.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Altebaumer, agribusiness team agricultural team chief, and Kennedy met with the university chancellor of Paktiya to discuss improvements the team wished to help university officials make over the coming months.
“Some of the future projects at the university include generator power, Internet access throughout the buildings, a greenhouse, a faculty exchange program and incorporating female students,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy talked to the faculty about the university admission testing that recently took place. This year more than 30 Afghan females took the test for admission alongside male students.
“Coed testing is something that did not occur during the Soviet or Taliban rule,” Kennedy said. “It is a positive sign of improvements made in the province over the past few years.”
The last stop of the day was at a local farm.
Projects currently under construction include a multipurpose building, generator building, a perimeter security fence and electrical and sewer project. U.S. Army Sfc. Billy Payne, agribusiness team project manager, gauged the improvements made since the last visit a few weeks ago.
“The contractors have made steady progress at the farm,” Payne said. “The [agribusiness development team] will work with the contractors to address specific issues that have been encountered during the projects.”
“The mission will allow the [agribusiness development team] to increase agricultural production across the province, maximizing the resources that the [agribusiness development team] is able to provide and advise Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials in order to strengthen the relationship between the Afghan government and the local population,” said Payne.
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