Posted: 04.06.2011

Could the price of watermelon hold a key to unlocking independence for Afghanistan citizens? 

Sounds odd doesn't it - but Col. Darrel "AJ" Feucht, Commander of the 82nd Agribusiness Development Team from Wisconsin, tells Pam Jahnke - it's possible.  Feucht says today, on the open market in Afghanistan, growers can receive more money for a watermelon then they can for opiate poppies!  So why aren't they growing more watermelon?  They need help - of an agricultural kind.  Enter....our agriculture experts from Wisconsin.

For the first time in Wisconsin's military history - a team representing all of the states agricultural strength will be on it's way to Afghanistan.  This effort focusing on helping the Afghani's rebuild their agriculture. The group of 58, including security team members, will probably depart on their mission some time in 2012.  Until then, it's all about strengthening the team physically and mentally. 

"Patience - patience is what we have to remember,"  Feucht tells Jahnke.  He's been advised by previous teams that Afghanistan is a culture that requires an investment of time to gain trust before attempting to move projects forward.  Feucht's doing his best to mentally prepare for that - especially since there's so many things they'd like to accomplish in the brief 10 months they're scheduled to be in-country.

Feucht tells Jahnke that they expect to set up small demonstration areas where they can physically show the area Afghani's literally how to plant seed, and cultivate fields.  Feucht says they don't want to do it for the citizens - but instead show them how to do it for themselves.  And it won't be limited to crops.

Feucht says the unit has agricultural experience in everything from large animal veterinary medicine and vet techs to hydrology.  The region they'll be working in while in Afghanistan is mountainous and has a lot of lumber - not at all what most Americans see on the evening news.  The 82nd Agribusiness Development Team's going to have to be ready for both wintery and summer weather - meaning a lot of gear.  To prepare - Feucht says the team is physically training together - and will be increasing their professional agribusiness training too.

The agribusiness training planned now for the guard members will range from exchanging practical notes with UW-Madison CALS staff through to taking a step back - and training at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle.

The Wisconsin Farm Report will be following the training of the 82nd Agribusiness Development Team both here and when they deploy.   

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