Marines, USAID offer alternatives to farmers in Marjah

Regional Command Southwest

Afghans unload two trucks full of diammonium phosphate fertilizer bags outside Forward Operating Base Marjah, Afghanistan, Feb. 1. The bags will be distributed to farmers participating in the sapling project currently underway in southern Marjah. Photo by Cpl. Megan Sindelar

02.06.2011 Story by Cpl. Megan Sindelar FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Afghanistan – With the planned delivery of 70,000 saplings, Marines from team 1, detachment 3, 3rd Civil Affairs Group, are offering farmers around Marjah, Afghanistan, an alternative to growing illegal crops.

The Marines, working with the United States Agency for International Development, have initiated a project that will distribute pomegranate and plum saplings to farmers in southern Marjah.

Not only will this help the local farmers grow an economically valuable crop, it will also help cut back on poppy growth in the area.

“This is helping us a lot,” said Abdul Qudos, a farmer in southeast Marjah. “We are making gardens and farms. We are helping our children and grandchildren.”

The Marines and members of USAID are working with local farmers on the techniques to cultivate the new crops.

Photo by Cpl. Megan Sindelar

“There are 10 extension workers per area that have gone out to each of the farmers’ land and trained them,” said Michael J. Orylski, distribution manager for the sapling project. “They trained the farmers to peg out the area, how to dig the holes, properly space the saplings and how to combat pests and disease.”

Orylski, from East London, South Africa, said that once the farmers have dug 100 holes in their land, they will return to Forward Operating Base Marjah and collect 50 pomegranate and 50 plum saplings.

After receiving their saplings, the farmers will be taught how to plant them. Extension workers will follow up with the farmers to evaluate their progress.

“When this is finished, each plant will yield about 80 kilograms of fruit annually,” said Orylski. “With 100 plants, they will have eight metric tons of fruit per year in two years time.”

“This is great,” said Qudos. “This is a big project and I want to thank the Marines for being helpful, our country will soon be fixed.”