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Story and pictures by the Kentucky's Agribusiness Development Team 3
[caption id="attachment_9088" align="aligncenter" width="550" caption="KAPISA, Afghanistan--Maj. John Schmitt and Capt. Rick Grant from KYADT3 instruct microscopy courses for students at the Kapisa Agriculture Institute, using only ambient light. (photo provided by Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team 3)"]
KAPISA, Afghanistan (Aug. 8)--Hundreds of Afghan students from the Kapisa Agriculture Institute congregate in a dilapidated textile complex to receive vocational agriculture training from members of Kentucky's third Agribusiness Development Team. With distance-learning support from the University of Kentucky, Maj. John Schmitt and Capt. Rick Grant from KYADT3 implemented a plant pathology curriculum for the KAI to help Afghans create sustainable crops and resources to literally grow a stable agribusiness.
[caption id="attachment_9095" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="KAPISA, Afghanistan--The former-textile building that accommodates the Kapisa Agriculture Institute lacks electricity, running water and basic communication amenities, such as the internet. (photo provided by Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team 3)"]
The former-textile building that accommodates the school lacks electricity, running water and basic communication amenities, such as the internet. Schmitt and Grant, both science officers from the National Guard, conducted microscopy courses as a prelude to the plant pathology program. These classes were instructed using ambient lighting and mirrors, in lieu of establishing a mobile power source that would have delayed the program and incurred a substantial cost.
[caption id="attachment_9096" align="alignright" width="300" caption="KAPISA, Afghanistan-- Students at the Kapisa Agriculture Institute receive instruction from KYADT3's Maj. John Schmitt and Capt. Rick Grant, using only ambient light. (photo provided by Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team 3)"]
The accredited long-distance plant pathology program developed by the University of Kentucky and the KYADT team assists Afghanistan’s long term growth and security strategy, insuring that support to Afghan's agribusiness future does not stop when American troops are withdrawn.