BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Jan. 11, 2007 -- More than 50 students from Kapisa and Parwan provinces graduated from the Comprehensive Agricultural Course for Soils, Crops, Agronomy and Animal Sciences, Jan. 6.
"The hard work and dedication demonstrated by the students emphasizes the commitment local officials have on improving the lives and increasing the prosperity of the people of their community,"
Army Maj. Don Johnson
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The 20-week course, taught by Dr. Mike Gangwer, a Department of Agriculture soil scientist assigned to the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team, provided instruction on crop production, plant physiology, plant disease, agronomy and animal science training, as well as other skills. According to Army Maj. Don Johnson, Bagram PRT civil-military affairs director, the students who went through this course will be able to help others in their provinces improve their farm production. The hard work and dedication demonstrated by the students emphasizes the commitment local officials have on improving the lives and increasing the prosperity of the people of their community, he said. Deployed to Afghanistan for the past nine months, Gangwer, a 2005 Michigan State University doctorate graduate, said he hopes to have instilled in his students the obligation to go out and take what they have learned to help their local farmers. Throughout the course, Gangwer said he could tell the students were interested and had some knowledge of the subjects in discussion because of the type of questions they asked. |