3.3 - Linking Emergency Response to Sustainable Development

National emergencies are times when large amount of donor funding may be raised and there is naturally considerable pressure to spent it quickly. With respect to seed aid, we urge a cautious approach that balances support to rainfed and irrigated areas and which relies largely on crop varieties that have been well-tested in Afghanistan and which are liked by farmers. We urge that attempts be made to rescue germplasm of landrace crop varieties that is at risk of being lost and that replication of local variety seed be given sufficient emphasis that the genetic diversity of local agroecosystems can be maintained. This paper is a preliminary attempt to describe how and why that should be done. We realize that some may disagree and we welcome comment on our proposed approach and assistance in improving the strategy of how this work should be undertaken. We continue to have the greatest respect for the agencies that have been working on seed issues in Afghanistan for many years including FAO, CGIAR Centers, and NGOs such as the Afghan Survey Unit, SCA, Mercy Corp and International Rescue Committee that have been working on seed provision issues in Afghanistan for many years. And we earnestly hope that weather, politics, and good science with all do their part to bring in a new era of agricultural prosperity for the Afghan people.