Development of Zone-Specific Packages of Best Practice Recommendations. While ARIA and CIMMYT have released fact sheets for five wheat growing zones of Afghanistan based on agronomic research between 2013 and 2017, these recommendations have not reached a broad research, extension, or farmer audience. In collaboration with XXXX and CIMMYT, GRAIN re-invigorated efforts to develop extension and farmer-ready products based on these research-supported best-practice recommendations. GRAIN’s technical and communications teams, with additional support from a hired graphic designer, create the initial design concept for products to promote best-practice agronomic recommendations for key activities such as date of sowing, seed rate, fertilizer rate, timing of irrigation for winter wheat, fall sown spring wheat, and rain-fed wheat. These recommendations were developed based on CIMMYT-supported trials between 2013 and 2017 and included provinces in four of the seven agro-ecological zones of Afghanistan. (Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat and Balkh). These results will be combined with 2018 – 2019 ARIA trials conducted under the guidance of GRAIN. The first phase in the series of agronomic educational packages will be released in the final quarter this program year, and continued in the first quarter of PY3 with the aim of release in preparation for the 2019-2020 growing season.
Development of Zone-Specific Packages of Best Practice Recommendations. GRAIN’s LOP Work Plan calls for the development of zone-specific, agronomic practice-based recommendation packages in PY3-PY4. This involves the development of research-based extension educational/informational material related to an array of agronomic research being conducted in each of the six agro-ecological zones of Afghanistan. GRAIN supported ICARDA in PY1 to conduct agronomic research in all zones, and in PY2 is supporting ARIA to implement agronomic trials in five of the six agro-ecological zones. While GRAIN’s collaborative partners ICARDA and AAIP have been conducting agronomic practice research in all agro-ecological zones since 2014, subject to accessing that historical data, GRAIN intends to jump start the process by utilizing relevant information and developing research-based preliminary reports, in order to begin drafting applicable extension materials. GRAIN will enlist the support of short-term technical assistance (STTA) to review all records, and determine the selection of valid data that can be converted into viable zonal agronomic practices. If successful, this could accelerate the release of these packages by up to two years. The STTA will present these results to ARIA, GRAIN and other research partners to: ● Conclude where or if there is sufficient historical trial data available to determine sound practice recommendations for farmers; and ● Recommend priorities for trials (varieties, locations, parameters, regression models) for 2019-2020 field trials that fill gaps in research-supported recommendations. This information will better enable GRAIN, ARIA, ICARDA and CIMMYT to work collaboratively, to design research crucial to commence releasing comprehensive zone-specific packages in PY3. This quarter, GRAIN secured ARIA’s commitment to share all past trial data for 2014 to 2018 with GRAIN no later than end of January. With this data in hand, GRAIN will work with CIMMYT to determine the best next steps, likely including recruitment of additional national STTA to assist in data analysis and interpretation. Intermediate Result 3: Improved capacity of MAIL/ARIA to identify research priorities in response to key constraints in the wheat sector.
Development of Zone-Specific Packages of Best Practice Recommendations. A major concern for MAIL is the low productivity of wheat production in Afghanistan. There are many reasons for low production, but a major limitation is the lack of research-based information that is appropriately developed for farmer comprehension. In PY2Q4, GRAIN and its partners at ARIA and CIMMYT designed and released poster-based extension and farmer education tools for four wheat growing zones of Afghanistan. The posters, developed from five years of research data provided by ARIA and CIMMYT, communicate best practices for sowing date, seed spacing, irrigation timing, soil fertility, and pest management. Furthering this effort in this reporting period, the GRAIN research team worked to draft content to expand the posters into booklet-based products, which provide additional details and are well designed for use among agricultural extension agents. Finalization of the pocket-sized booklets will be completed with ARIA in Q2, including graph-based production information on one side of the opened booklet and written texted in local language on the other. Prior to release, the booklets will be reviewed by MAIL’s new Research and Extension Coordination Committee (being formed with GRAIN advice and likely to launch in Q2) for technical accuracy, usability of the content and format, and for advice on distribution methods and areas. Following MAIL approval, GRAIN will fund printing of the booklets and coordinate distribution to major wheat- producing districts and provinces through MAIL’s Director of Provincial Affairs and local DAIL Directors. Intermediate Result 3: Improved capacity of MAIL/ARIA to identify research priorities in response to key constraints in the wheat sector.
Development of Zone-Specific Packages of Best Practice Recommendations. A second Safe Use of Pesticides poster is in development. The first focused upon the correct protective clothing that should be used when preparing and spraying pesticides, and has been circulated among ARIA, DAIL, extension agents and university agricultural faculties, as well as utilized in all GRAIN environmental compliance training. This poster will be circulated among ARIA, MAIL and other stakeholder for review and comment next quarter, prior to final approval and distribution.
