U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) met today with Col. Martin A. Leppert, head of the National Guard Agri-business Development Teams, to discuss ongoing efforts to improve agriculture in Afghanistan and stabilize the war-torn nation’s economy.

“I commend the work of Col. Leppert and all members of the National Guard’s Agri-business Development Teams for their heroic efforts to help farmers in Afghanistan cultivate and grow the country’s agriculture industry,” Luetkemeyer said. “The work of the Agri-business Development Teams will help to stabilize this war-torn nation.”

Luetkemeyer introduced H.Res.1075, a bipartisan resolution, earlier this month recognizing the work and commitment of the Agri-business Development Teams to revise agriculture practices and increase food production in countries like Afghanistan. The resolution currently has 48 co-sponsors.  

The National Guard Agri-business Development Teams are comprised of Guard members who have a civilian background in farming or a related agricultural business who utilize those skills to teach Afghans sustainable farming practices. Before the groups arrive in Afghanistan they collaborate with farm bureaus and land-grant universities like the University of Missouri to prepare agriculture strategies for Afghan farms.

When the ADTs deploy to Afghanistan, they work with the Afghan farmers to provide basic agricultural requirements in growing crops like wheat and grapes in an effort to eliminate poppy production used in the drug trade.

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