PREPARATION OF AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

UNCLAS STATE 043720 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAGR EAID AF PK SUBJECT: PREPARATION OF AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN DELEGATIONS TO TRILATERAL TO EMBRACE PLANNED DELIVERABLES IN AGRICULTURE ¶1. (U) This is an action cable (ref para 3). A response is requested by May 3. ¶2. (U) The U.S. ? Afghanistan ? Pakistan Trilateral Summit on May 6 and 7 in Washington will bring together senior leaders to discuss critical issues that affect the stability of the entire region. Agriculture has been identified by the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, as one of the top three issues where we need to make progress. An agricultural breakout session chaired by Secretary Vilsack will identify activities that can be undertaken by the three governments together to improve productivity and employment in the region's agricultural sector. ¶3. (U) A priority deliverable for the agriculture break out session is establishment of trilateral bodies to address "Strengthening Food Security through Research and Application" and "Water Management and Watershed Rehabilitation." S/SRAP requests posts to contact their respective ministers of agriculture in Afghanistan and Pakistan to urge them to agree to an announcement by the three Presidents that these bodies are being established. A response is requested by May 3. ¶4. (U) The trilateral body on "Strengthening Food Security through Research and Application," would establish a board to coordinate agricultural research efforts among the three countries. Research efforts could focus on: (1) improving per-hectare productivity for key food, feed, and forage crops; (2) improving storage systems to reduce post-harvest losses for key food crops; (3) developing systems to detect and control crop and livestock diseases; and (4)deepening collaboration on UG-99 (stem rust) research and development of practical solutions. ¶5. (U) The trilateral body for "Water Management and Watershed Rehabilitation" would identify areas for collaboration on rehabilitating target watersheds and utilizing improved irrigation practices and technologies to increase agricultural crop yields. ¶6. (U) Points of contact in S/SRAP are Beth Dunford, Senior Development Advisor to the Special Representative, (202)647-9403, and Otto Gonzalez, Agriculture Advisor, (202)647-4131. CLINTON