Afghan's wheat crop is threatened by the spread of wheat stem rust. To help fight that problem 150 tons of wheat stem rust-resistant wheat seed have been planted in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock says once the seed is multiplied, MAIL will work to make it available in 2011 to over 60,000 Afghan family farmers. USDA scientists say the donation will provide Afghanistan with 65% of its rust-resistant wheat seed stocks for the 2011 planting season.
The seed originated from Egypt's Agricultural Research Center and is part of a joint effort with USDA and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the donation and shipment of this seed is a true international effort, not only demonstrating the finest in civilian-military collaboration, but also the potential benefit of partnerships between scientists and researchers in countries around the world to address pressing global issues.
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