PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marie K. Thompson
DATE: December 16, 2002
Field trip:
Afghan minister comes to Colbert for farm advice
By Dennis Sherer
Staff Writer
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Farm
supply store owner Harlon King (left) and Asadullah
MolaKhail (middle), with IFDC, listen as Sayed
Hussain Anwari, Afghanistan's minister of
agriculture and livestock, asks a question about a
chemical product. DANIEL GILES/TimesDaily |
|
Through the years, Harlon King has dispensed a lot of advice on how
to grow fruits and vegetables in the Shoals from his farm supply
store on Sixth Street.
Last week, King shared some of his tips for successful farming with
an international audience.
Sayed Hussain Anwari, Afghanistan's minister of agriculture and
livestock visited King's store as part of a tour of local farm
businesses.
The visit was organized by Muscle Shoals-based IFDC, an
international center for soil fertility and agricultural
development.
Standing next to a display of rattlesnake pole bean and other seeds,
Anwari said farm supply shops like King's are needed in his country.
"I hope we can develop shops like this in Afghanistan,"
Anwari said through an interpreter.
As King led him on a tour of the store, Anwari marveled at the
variety of items that included garden supplies, incubators for
chicken and quail eggs, bottles for baby calves and goats, feed for
animals and jars of honey and molasses.
Anwari was particularly interested in a display of rakes and other
hand tools.
Standing next to the Boss brand work glove display and the Red
Snapper electric fence voltage testers, Anwari – through his
translator – quizzed King about some of his secrets for success in
the farm supply business.
King told Anwari and a team of agricultural scientists from
Afghanistan that farm supply stores need to stock a variety of
merchandise to attract customers during the off-seasons for growing
fruits and vegetables.
"We sell hardware, peanuts, pecans and whatever we can pick up
to help us survive," King said.
Anwari said farm supply stores will play a big role in Afghanistan's
recovery from more than 20 years of war.
He said the nation's economy is based on agriculture, and farmers
need easy access for supplies.
Anwari said much emphasis must be placed on helping the nation's
farmers during the process of rebuilding the war-torn country.
"If agriculture is neglected, it will have a lasting negative
impact on our economy," Anwari said.
IFDC is playing a role in helping rebuild Afghanistan's farming
sector. The organization is helping private farm supply dealers
expand their businesses.
Anwari praised the work of IFDC. He said a majority of Afghans
appreciate what the United States is doing to fight terrorism in the
country. He said people who think all Afghans are terrorists are
mistaken. "The people of Afghanistan are not like that."
He is hopeful the United States will continue its support efforts.
"We hope the people and the government of the United States do
not leave us alone in our struggle against terrorism and rebuilding
our country," he said.
After touring King's store, the delegation toured Cotton Producers
Co-op Gin in Spring Valley. Anwari said many Afghan farmers grew
cotton before Russia invaded the nation in 1979. He said he hopes
cotton farming can be restored in the country where wheat is now the
primary crop.
Hollis Isbell, president of the gin, explained to the delegation how
the farmer's cooperative operates and he demonstrated the ginning
process.
"I hope we contributed something that will help them feed and
clothe their country," Isbell said.
In addition to visiting the Shoals, the Afghan delegation's tour of
the United States included stops in Texas, Missouri and Washington,
D.C.
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