The assessment report also stated that the focus in seed should be on quality enhancement and not on quantity, since households meet a high proportion of their seed needs from sources within their communities including own production and other farmers. Alternative seed systems should be developed within these communities to produce high quality seed and make it available to local farmers.

The livestock, feed and rangelands assessment recommended six project ideas with potential for short- and longterm impact. The ideas include institutional strengthening/human capacity building; improving dairy production; integrated small-ruminant production; integrated animal health management; animal power for tillage and transport; and village women's poultry production. Development assistance should help restore marketing structures and encourage the export of goods such as carpets, for which Afghanistan has a comparative advantage (Thomson et al. 2003).

The horticulture and marketing assessment pointed out that in the past, horticulture provided 30-50% of Afghanistan's export earnings and presents the best potential for replacing poppy production. However, global competition is increasing for traditional Afghan horticultural crops and global preferences are also changing, rendering many of the Afghan cultivars and practices less competitive. The rebuilding of the country's horticulture will provide a critical source of nutrients, employment opportunities, and significant income at the farm level and foreign exchange at the national level.

The report's recommendations included conserving existing genetic resources; conducting a market analysis to identify trade opportunities and establish the framework for a viable, horticultural sector; and developing human resource programs as well as programs to enhance horticultural production capacity, quality, and postharvest handling systems (ICARDA 2003c).

The Afghanistan case shows how the power of diagnostics, leveraging CGIAR Center expertise, can help aid agencies identify key development needs in a quick, focused, and practical way.

Aid made smart and targeted

Research and development need not occur separately or sequentially. The Seeds of Hope (SOH) project crossed conventional institutional divides to show that a blend of these elements can deliver 'smart aid'.

Aid agencies had in past emergencies typically relied on massive seed shipments from abroad, often of insufficiently-tested, maladapted varieties. SOH helped them understand how risky this was, and the damage that could follow when farmers' seed stocks are replaced by varieties that are not resistant to local diseases, pests and stresses or suited to local market demands.

Rather than the one-size-fits-all approach, SOH identified and multiplied many local and improved varieties, and provided seed to just those areas where it was adapted and needed. Since the conflict shifted to different parts of the country over time, SOH partners participated in regular weekly seed meetings so that researchers, donor agencies and NGOs could share information on seed needs and priorities. This knowledge was documented in technical bulletins summarizing critical issues and recommended actions.