Iowa ADT builds relationships in Khas Konar

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team has made deliberate, methodical progress in assisting agriculture officials and farmers in the Khas Konar District of Kunar Province.

Over the past three months, members of the ADT approved repairs to a modern seed cleaner a corrupt official had looted, and facilitated selection of a demonstration farm site by district officials and shura members. ADT members presented a land-use agreement for the demonstration farm to the district subgovernor and the shura for their consideration Jan. 20.

Most recently, members of the ADT met with Gul Rang, the district agriculture extension manager, and Zabihulla, the owner of the demonstration farm site at the Khas Konar District Center Feb. 6. At the meeting, ADT members and the Khas Konar agriculture leaders discussed potential cool storage locations and the design of the greenhouse slated for installation on the demonstration farm.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rick McLain of Stockport, Iowa, is the ADT’s project leader for Khas Konar. Despite the ADT’s accomplishments thus far in Khas Konar, McLain insisted the team’s most important achievement so far has been to establish solid relationships with district agricultural leaders.

 “We want to help them in ways that will improve their long-term productivity, and we want to make sure they can sustain anything we start,” McLain said. “That means we’ve got to trust one another, and trust takes time.”

According to McLain, he has developed an especially strong bond with Rang and Zabihulla. During the Feb. 6 meeting, Gul Rang praised McLain as an “honest man” and “good partner.”

“When Chief (McLain) says this thing or that thing will happen, then I know it will take place, because he is a man of honor,” Rang said.

While McLain said his experience with Rang was that Rang, too, was an “honest” and “honorable” man, McLain reserved his highest praise for Zabihulla.

“I’ve been to his farm three times so far, and he’s not a man with his hand out,” McLain said. “He reminds me of the old farmers I know in Iowa who won’t ask you for help, but might accept it if you offer it to them the right way.”

Zabihulla is also the elder of the village immediately adjacent to the proposed demonstration farm site. His sole interest in working with the ADT, Zabihulla told McLain during the most recent meeting, is improving the lives of the villagers he leads.

“I have paid to put a well on this land, and I am willing to sign a deed to give this land to the government for the demonstration farm,” Zabihulla said. “I will give my time, my fortune and my land if it will help my people.”