NRCS Maryland Employee Minnick Volunteers for Second Tour as an Agricultural Advisor in Afghanistan

Maryland Media Liaison:

Carol Hollingsworth, 443-482-2902

Annapolis, MD, January 31, 2007 --- John Minnick, a career employee with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland recently volunteered to begin a second continuous tour of duty in eastern Afghanistan, reported Virginia (Ginger) L. Murphy, NRCS Maryland State Conservationist.

Prior to reporting to the Nangarhar and Laghman Provinces in Afghanistan, along the border with Pakistan, Minnick worked as the District Conservationist in Anne Arundel County. He began his international assignment in May 2006 and is expected to return in November 2007. His return stateside assignment is unknown at this time.

Minnick serves as an agricultural advisor to the Commander of a US-military led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). During a stateside visit, Minnick described his work in Afghanistan as very rewarding. He said he travels to local areas and works through the PRT which provides funds to the villages to purchase seeds, tools, and piping for water supply. Minnick provides the technical assistance, via an interpreter, to help villagers plant and maintain a crop that will survive in the mountainous climate and instructs farmers on soil fertility and plant diseases.

Minnick provided a description of the area; many days the temperature soars above 130 degrees (F) and water is scarce. The area only receives six inches of water annually. Local crops include grains, tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus fruit, and olives.

“The villagers are hard working people. Families work together, from dawn to dusk, in the fields with very little ag tools and almost no tractors,” said Minnick. “The fields are small, usually less than one-half acre and must be terraced and irrigated, so water will flow into all parts of the field. Ag practices in Afghanistan do not fit into the typical American model of agriculture.”

“Crops that are harvested must be sold or consumed quickly as there is very little electricity for refrigerated storage,“ he added.

Minnick explained why he wanted to accept a second tour of duty. “I wanted to serve my country overseas in a reconstruction purpose. I find it very rewarding to use my agricultural training and experience gained while working for NRCS to help the Afghan people. They are in desperate need of conservation technical assistance.”

“I am excited about working with the University of Nangarhar’s Department of Agriculture to set up a soil-analysis laboratory and the opportunity to work with local ag scientists. I want to build a watershed management structure for irrigation and flood prevention (to capture water when the snow melts in the nearby mountains). The villages need to learn how to store water as their water sources usually run dry in July.”

Minnick described the villagers,”……as very generous and always offer to share chai tea and talk with me at length during my visits.” Minnick follows local dress codes, by wearing a head scarf and keeping skin covered. He travels with a military escort and is required to wear body armor when outside of the military compound where he resides.

Minnick said he is proud of his contributions to the ag communities and appreciates the support from NRCS and especially the PRT. He recently was awarded battle coins by the US Armed Forces Commander of the PRT to commemorate his work in Afghanistan.

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