For the past forty years, political strife and severe drought have devastated Afghanistan’s food production capabilities. The country is heavily dependent on food aid from international donors, and is destined to stay in this state as they lack the financial liquidity to restore their rural production systems. In essence it is a catch twenty-two; Afghanistan does not have the capital to begin its agricultural recovery, and does not have the agricultural goods to sell and finance its return to economical stability.

In a concentrated effort to address this economical shortfall, ATVI will harness the best agricultural research available, and provide coursework over a four semester program for its students. Students participating in this program will be given an introduction to horticulture and the industry’s practices, training in crop selection and marketing, greenhouse operations and production, and the opportunity to practice agribusiness management. By training and providing a diversely knowledgeable agricultural and horticultural based workforce, Afghanistan will be many steps closer to reviving its once-thriving farming industry and move toward food self-sufficiency by the end of 2008.

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