Indiana Guard trains for the farm fields of Afghanistan

SBT24/7 News Report

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Indiana Guard trains for the farm fields of Afghanistan

(AP photo/RAFIQ MAQBOOL) Early this November, an Afghan farmer winnows grain on a farm in Narang district, near the Pakistani border in Kunar province.

Story Created: Nov 19, 2008 at 6:40 AM EST

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2008 at 8:40 AM EST

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — An Indiana National Guard unit is training this week at Purdue University as the troops prepare for a mission to Afghanistan.

But this different sort of mission focuses on helping the Afghan people learn new farming techniques.

It's part of the broader "hearts and minds" goal of bringing economic and political stability to the troubled region.

The 28-member unit is training in soils assessment, livestock management, nutrition and other agribusiness techniques, the university said in a press release.

Indiana is one of just five states preparing units with agriculture experience.

"These National Guard soldiers are better suited for this mission because our soldiers have civilian jobs and experiences in agriculture," said Col. Cindra Chastain, deputy commander and a Purdue animal sciences graduate.

But some of the differences between farming in Afghanistan and America present challenges, just as cultural differences do.

For example, most Afghan farmers plant wheat by hand on a typically sized acre or two, said Kevin McNamara, a professor of agricultural economics and leader in Purdue's partnership with Kabul University.

Farmers still use oxen to pull the plow, and crops are sun-dried.

So the National Guard unit will do a session on broadcast planting for wheat and corn, taking that skill and other American techniques to Afghanistan's fields.

The unit is scheduled to deploy to the province of Khowst in January for one year, and additional units are planned over the next two years.

Indiana University also is working with the unit to provide language and cultural training.

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