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