Skip to main content

Farmers in Fatigues: The Texas Guard in Afghanistan

The Texas National Guard is on a five-year mission in Afghanistan to help farmers build sustainable agriculture. In part one of this four-part series for KUT Radio, Douglas Wissing reports on the team's mission in this complicated war zone.

By Douglas Wissing
Republish
The ADT assists on agricultural development projects in Ghazni such as this warehouse. Here the contractor and a supervisor wait while the ADT does the final inspection. ADT security soldiers stand guard at the rear.
Credit: Doug Wissing

 

In response to complaints from Afghan civilians, last week NATO commanders released changes to their policy on conducting raids at night. The raids have been among the biggest concerns for Afghans, as military forces try to win the battle for the hearts and minds of Afghan civilians.

Soldiers are also vying for civilians’ trust on another front: agriculture.

The men and women of the Texas National Guard Agribusiness Development Team are trying to win the war by helping Afghan farmers with agriculture, irrigation, and animal breeding projects.

 

In the process, the Texas ADT soldiers are also trying to survive in a place where danger lurks around every corner.

In this four-part series from KUT Radio, Douglas Wissing reports on the team’s mission in Afghanistan’s complicated war zone.


Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.

Texans need truth. Help us report it.

Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?

Yes, I'll donate today

Information about the authors

Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

Explore related story topics