NEI Foundation

Soybean Growing after June Planting

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:39:58 +0000

Soybean Growing in 26 Provinces (Yellow areas are the new 11 provinces reached in 2009)

This year we added 11 new provinces where we will be growing soybeans. Altogether, NEI is operating in 26 provinces with approximately 3,000 farmers and numerous housewives who have joined us in promoting soybean cultivation throughout Afghanistan.

Thanks to the Japanese and Korean governments for their support.

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:34:45 +0000

Our work to tackle malnutrition in Afghanistan by developing a self sustainable soy industry was recognized by the Governments of Japan and Korea where soybeans have been grown and consumed for over a millennium.

Appreciation Remarks by Dr. Steven Kwon at the Signing Ceremony with Korean Ambassador Song, Deputy Minister Jawad, and Japanese Ambassador Sato from left

The Japanese government simultaneously provided funding to test the soybean varieties donated by the Korean government, helped NEI distribute soybean seeds to first time farmers in five provinces, and provided education in the home use of soybeans for pregnant and lactating women in the areas.

For the test trials, NEI invited research agronomists from 10 agricultural research stations of the Ministry of Agriculture. We provided training on soybean production and experimentation and also the health benefits and home use of soybeans so that they could provide technical assistance to farmers in their own provinces.

Korean Soybean Varieties donated by the Korean Government (Baghlan Experimental Station)

To promote soybean production among farmers, other nongovernmental organizations, which are actively supporting agricultural development in Afghanistan, have joined our efforts. Agronomists from the Aga Khan Foundation, Shelter for Life, and Concerns Worldwide were trained by NEI to plant soybeans through their own organizations. FAO (Afghanistan) has also received soybean seeds from NEI for their farmers.

Soy Milk Feeding Program and Soy Food Culture Development

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:30:40 +0000

Soy Milk Feeding at School in Kabul (Shin Hong & Bok Sil Pae)

We are continuing our soy milk feeding program for women and children in the poverty stricken areas of Herat, Faizabad, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kabul. Together with our soybean production program, soy milk feeding is a major component in providing immediate nutrition to the malnourished populations. We have been supplying freshly prepared soy milk to villages, schools, hospitals, and orphanages. More than 4,000 of women and children are receiving soymilk daily from us.

Many government officials and school superintendents have contacted us asking if we can establish soy milk processing facilities in their cities to stem the growing problem of malnutrition related illnesses among the poor. We hope that generous donors will come forward so that we can extend our efforts and the health benefits of soybean nutrition to those who earnestly ask for our help.

Sorting and Cleaning of Domestic Soybeans for Soy Milk Production

Soy naan made from a 10:90 blend of soy and wheat flour is becoming popular in soybean producing communities. Many housewives are using stone mills at home to grind soybean into soy flour, then bake soy naan, which contains 110% more absorbable proteins than traditional naans.

NEI HQ Update

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:26:19 +0000

Soybean Grinding at Home for Soy Naan Preparation

The NEI Kabul house, which serves as both an office and living quarters for our staff, has been moved to the immediate neighborhood of our Kabul South soy milk processing facility.

Soy Naan made from a 10:90 Blend of Soy and Wheat Flour

We are happy to inform you that Mr. and Mrs. Shin Hong Pae joined us in August and will stay in Afghanistan for three years. They will assume the responsibility of managing the soy milk feeding program in the new provinces as well as the women empowerment program. Mr. and Mrs. Pae will be a great asset to our team and we are thankful for their faith in NEI and dedication to the women and children of Afghanistan

Summer Planting

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:21:31 +0000

Laghman Province

NEI purchased 20 tons of soybean seeds from Stine Seed Company in Iowa and transported them to Kabul for distribution to farmers, housewives, and high school teachers. NEI staff members in Kabul were split into several teams to distribute the seeds and provide training throughout several provinces so that farmers could begin planting by mid June, right after the winter wheat harvest.

Kunduz Province

New Approaches

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:07:50 +0000

Training for School Teachers

To extend the nutritional benefits of soybean to larger rural areas, we began distributing seeds to housewives in poor villages to plant in their own gardens. This idea was also welcomed and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO) and the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture (MAIL). The FAO and MAIL organized groups of women in Takhar, Badakshan, and other provinces so that we could train housewives on how to grow soybeans in their areas.

NEI also began training high school teachers on how to produce soybeans and use them at home. In Afghanistan, many high schools have school gardens on campus to teach the students how to cultivate crops and vegetables. The first group of 70 teachers from 16 schools was invited from the capital city of Kabul, and they enjoyed learning about soybeans and touring our soy milk processing facility. The teachers recently reported that soybeans are now growing successfully in their 16 schools.

Soybean Planting at School Garden

2009 Soybean Production – Spring Planting

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:00:57 +0000

Training for Bamyan Farmers (4/09)

Training for Women Groups in Takhar Province (5/09)

In high altitude areas like the Bamyan province with a short growing season, we provided training to the Afghan farmers and distributed 5 tons of soybean seeds in early April. These seeds are actually from the 2008 Herat province harvest and were tested and cleaned for distribution. This progress moves us one step closer to producing soybean seeds inside the country so that we can create an economically sustainable soybean industry for the people of Afghanistan.

A letter from the President

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:56:16 +0000

Despite the economic downturn across the globe, we are actively continuing our efforts to eradicate malnutrition among women and children in Afghanistan. Thanks to your generous donations, NEI was able to purchase enough soybean seeds to distribute to over 2,000 farmers and to expand our efforts into 11 more provinces this year. We continue to receive encouraging reports form farmers that soybeans are growing very well in their farm fields. This is our fourth year collaborating with Afghan farmers to promote soybean nutrition throughout Afghanistan. It is our hope that the many farmers who have not heard about soybeans and its benefit to their families will be reached through our growing relationships with the Afghan people.

Your continued support has been vital in moving our soy program forward to defeat malnutrition among the poor and starving. Thank you again.

Steven Kwon, Ph. D.
President

New Volunteer Staff Couples Going to Afghanistan

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:20:52 +0000

Mr. and Mrs. Shinhong and Boksil Pae, Los Angeles, USA

Mr. and Mrs. Shinhong and Boksil Pae, Los Angeles, USA are now ready to join our volunteer staff members in Afghanistan; Mr. Young Su Byeon, Mr. Young Whan Kim and Mrs. Sungho Cho Wiley. They will work closely with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to empower widows and their families nutritionally and financially through our soy program.

NEI In The News

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:20:02 +0000

In February, TOLO TV-Afghanistan, the largest TV network in Afghanistan, filmed soy milk processing at our Kabul South soy milk processing facility and subsequent soy milk feeding to school children in an elementary school near the soy milk facility. We thanked them for educating the general public on the health benefits of soy through their programs. Our Kabul staff and local employees also enjoyed appearing in the national TV.

Dr. Steven Kwon and NEI’s story were featured in the January issue of ‘Homeliving & Style’, a reputable monthly magazine of Korea. Touched by the story, one family in Seoul made an immediate donation to purchase and ship 10 tons of soybean seeds from USA to Afghanistan.