Agriculture Team Trains Afghans on Grain Storage

By Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 2, 2009 - A U.S.-led agriculture development team is helping Afghan farmers capitalize on their investments. The Task Force Warrior agribusiness development team trained farmers from nearby provinces here June 24, showing them how to store seed for the next planting season. Farmers from Parwan, Panjshir and Kapisa provinces learned how to assemble grain bins, which will keep harvested grain from spoiling.

"Our team set up the bottom ring, top ring, and some roof pieces," said Army Master Sgt. John Herron, an agronomist and hydrologist with the team, who helped to set up the training site with more than a dozen Afghan workers. Herron and his team showed the Afghans how to assemble the grain bins, using silicone caulk at the seams to keep moisture out during the harsh Afghan winters.

"A local truck was contracted to transport [the] bins to several locations in Kapisa," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Eldon Kuntzelman, a team agronomist who coordinated with a group in Nebraska to have the bins shipped to Afghanistan.

The grain bins will be built at eight locations throughout Parwan, Kapisa and Panjshir. The farmers received tool sets to use to assemble their grain bins once they arrive, officials said.

(Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens serves in the Task Force Warrior public affairs office.)