Objective of the project:  

Strengthen the capacity of ARIA research stations.

Activities

Activity 1.1:
Obtain advanced breeding lines from international collections

Activity 1.2:
Assist ARIA in the design and management of trials to screen materials for adaptation to major agroecological zones

Activity 1.3:
Assist ARIA in collecting, analyzing data and in selection of promising material and submitting to Variety Release Committee

Activity 1.4:
Assist in registering released varieties and producing breeder seed (BS) under good husbandry care

Activity 1.5:
Assess training needs of different categories of staff in relation to expected tasks and duties

Activity 1.6:
Develop training plan (types of training, duration and location of training services)

Activity 1.7:
Provide overseas training in agronomy research

Activity 1.8:
Provide on-the-job training in trial design, management and data analysis

Activity 1.9:
Provide essential equipment and supplies for variety trial management

Activity 2.1:
Assist ISE in producing foundation seed in plots under appropriate husbandry care

Activity 2.2:
Assist and monitor the harvesting process and packaging of early generation seed

Activity 2.3:
Monitor the sale of foundation seed to seed enterprises

Activity 2.4:
Provide essential equipment and spares for repairs to irrigation canals, seed cleaning and storage facilities

Activity 2.5:
Assess training needs of different categories of staff in relation to expected tasks and duties

Activity 2.6:
Develop training plan (types of training, duration and location of training services)

Activity 2.7:
Provide on-the-job training in seed technology, quality assurance and equipment service and maintenance

Activity 3.1:
Assist in preparing ToRs and appoint members of the National Seed Board (NSB)

Activity 3.2:
Establish Secretariat of NSB and supply it with necessary support services

Activity 3.3:
Provide running costs of NSB and supply it with necessary support services

Activity 3.4:
Assist in organizing regular meetings of NSB

Activity 3.5:
Establish Seed Certification Agency (SCA) under NSB

Activity 3.6:
Establish Variety Release Committee under NSB

Activity 3.7:
Establish a Seed & Plant Health Inspectorate under NSB

Activity 4.1:
Assess training needs of certified seed producers and develop a training plan

Activity 4.2:
Provide on-farm training in crop husbandry care and post-harvest handling

Activity 4.3:
Hold Seed Review and Planning meetings

Activity 4.4:
Hold consultations regarding privatization of ISE

Activity 4.5:
Conduct consultancies for privatization of NGO seed operations

Activity 4.6:
Carryout nationwide market research at farmers’ level

Activity 4.7:
Conduct an ECOFIN analysis during inception phase

Activity 4.8:
Conduct national workshop for ISE privatization

Activity 4.9:
Conduct seed marketing and production training including study tours and traveling workshops

Activity 4.10:
Organize business meetings to link seed producers with seed / input dealers

Progress/achievements

Activity 4.11:
Create awareness about improved varieties and quality seed through field days

Activity 4.12:
Assist in the establishment of regional seed associations

Activity 4.13:
Assist in the establishment of a national seed association and participation in APSA meetings

Activity 4.14:
Assist in the organization of seed and input fairs in various regions

Activity 4.15:
Introduce margin analysis, promote cost-effectiveness and competitive pricing

Output and results

Output 1:
The Agricultural Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA) is enabled to effectively develop varieties and produce breeder seed.

Output 2:
The Improved Seed Enterprises (ISEs) are enabled to produce foundation seeds of newly released and popular existing varieties.

Output 3:
National Seed Board (NSB) and its affiliated bodies are established and made functional as apex institutions for coordinating seed industry functions.

Output 4:
An appropriate system for commercializing certified seeds to farmers is established and made functional.

- Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), the National Seed Board (NSB)
- Afghanistan National Seed Organization (ANSOR)