SPANISH PRT PLANTS PISTACHIO TREES ON LAND FORMERLY USED FOR DRUG CROPS.

QAL´EH-YE NOW, Afghanistan--(Mar 26, 2010) – The Spanish Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), through the International Spanish Agency of Coordination to the Development (AECID), has completed a project to support the economy of the province of Badghis.

The objective of the project, which began last year, is planting and growing pistachio trees in place of crops whose main yield is illegal drugs. The pistachio trees provide a profitable and productive alternative. The plants adapt perfectly to the extreme Afghan environment. Their care and administration will be the responsibility of local communities. The Spanish PRT is committed to helping with the seed and organic fertilizer. In addition, the PRT provides technical advice regarding the tree´s growth. Yesterday, escorted by Spanish units of the Legion Brigade, members of the AECID and an Afghan agricultural engineer visited several new pistachio groves. They were there to supervise the work being done in the 13 current pistachio plantations in the Badghis region.

The Spanish PRT is a part of RC-West. Among the missions of the international troops in the region is contributing to the Afghan national reconstruction, supporting the creation of agricultural exploitation structures, and developing the local economy.