Afghanistan minister tours WSU ag facilities in Tri-Cities, Prosser

Afghanistan’s minister of agriculture was in the Tri-Cities during the weekend to look at research being done at Washington State University Tri-Cities and the university’s research station in Prosser.

Assadullah Zamir has been in the United States for the past week as part of a fact-finding mission, according to his spokeswoman Sabra Simmonds. He was scheduled to visit the University of California at Davis after visiting the Mid-Columbia.

The minister interacted with several faculty and some graduate students while in the region Sunday.

“I think he’s very keen to have collaboration,” said Naidu Rayapati, an associate professor at the Prosser station.

Afghanistan and WSU have a partnership when it comes to agricultural research. The goals of his trip were to learn about how agriculture extension systems are run in the U.S., determine agricultural development opportunities, and gain understanding about crop management and breeding practices for plants grown in Afghanistan, as well as effective irrigation management, according to documents outlining the trip.

“The ministry of agriculture is doing important things in Afghanistan and, in many ways, represents the sector with the greatest potential to drive economic growth, create jobs, increase security and benefit the more marginalized and disadvantaged populations of Afghanistan,” Simmonds said in an email.

Zamir was most interested in the university’s work in irrigation as well as research into dryland wheat farming and even grapes. Grapes are still a big part of its agricultural economy, Simmonds said.

Rayapati said he talked with Zamir about various subjects, including wine grapes, Rayapati’s research focus. They also discussed wheat farming and irrigation, specifically how the recent drought in Washington is leading the university to develop new irrigation technology that could be used in Afghanistan.

And as the central Asian nation looks to rebuild its agricultural sector, Rayapati told the minister that there was the possibility that those working in the sector could be sent to the U.S. to train at WSU and learn about best farming practices.

“It’s one of those unique opportunities to focus our research and how best we can build a country through agriculture,” Rayapati told the Herald.

This story was originally published November 9, 2015 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Afghanistan minister tours WSU ag facilities in Tri-Cities, Prosser."