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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH VISITS AFGHANISTAN WITH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Meets with President Karzai; Focuses on Growth of Agriculture Industry

January 12, 2005, Washington D.C. - U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth today met with President Hamid Karzai and other Afghan government officials in Kabul as part of a Congressional Delegation of House Agriculture Committee members. Herseth and her group focused on non-military aspects of Afghanistan's reconstruction, and particularly on the progress of its agriculture industry.

Herseth said, "Long-term recovery in Afghanistan depends not only on military security, but also on the re-establishment of vital industries like agriculture. There is great potential for agriculture to help drive the recovery of Afghanistan, as it continues its transition to a post-Taliban economy and society. The United States is playing a key role in this transition and growth, and there are already officials from the United States Department of Agriculture on the ground helping to reestablish infrastructure, including irrigation systems and access roads to marketplace."

Herseth noted that many Afghan producers are transitioning from the poppy production that was prevalent during the reign of the Taliban. USDA officials and Provincial Recovery Teams, or PRT's, are aiding in the transition. Herseth met with PRT members who are using Test Plots to determine yield expectations for a range of agricultural products in different parts of the country.

Herseth also met with soldiers and military officials throughout the day, including Major Harold Walker of Sturgis, SD. Major Walker is currently the only South Dakota soldier in Afghanistan.

The delegation included Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), who is chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH), and Rep. David Scott (D-GA). The delegation visited both Kabul and Kandahar.

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