Kentucky agriculture team teaches at Afghan institute
Courtesy report
Kentucky National Guard
Students at the Kapisa Agriculture Institute receive instruction from the Kentucky National Guard's third Agribusiness Development Team Aug. 12, 2011.
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hi-res photoKAPISA, Afghanistan (8/15/11) -- Hundreds of Afghan students from the Kapisa Agriculture Institute congregated in a dilapidated textile complex to receive vocational agriculture training from members of Kentucky’s third Agribusiness Development Team, Aug. 12.
With distance-learning support from the University of Kentucky, Army Maj. John Schmitt and Army Capt. Rick Grant, from KYADT3, implemented a plant pathology curriculum for the KAI to help Afghans create sustainable crops and resources to literally grow a stable agribusiness.
Before they could implement the plant pathology program, Schmitt and Grant, both science officers for the National Guard, conducted microscopy courses, which taught the students basic microscope skills.
The former-textile building that accommodates the school lacked electricity, running water and basic communication amenities, such as the internet, so the classes were instructed using ambient lighting and mirrors, in lieu of establishing a mobile power source that would have delayed the program and incurred a substantial cost.
The accredited long-distance plant pathology program developed by the University of Kentucky and the KYADT team assists Afghanistan’s long term growth and security strategy, insuring that support to its agribusiness future does not stop when American troops are withdrawn.
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