Spring Planting in Afghanistan - Earth Day 2022
We are planting the Roots of Peace in Afghanistan this Earth Day, and every day, to improve the land and the quality of the lives of our partners and farmers on the ground. By planting a seed, we are cultivating peace through agriculture, and advocating for a better world.
Through the UNDP Community-Based Agriculture and Rural Development (CBARD) program, Roots of Peace is supporting thousands of Afghan farmers to establish sustainable livelihoods by investing in both agriculture and the planet.
The program works with more than 6,000 small-holder farmers across eastern, western and northern Afghanistan to strengthen local production of traditional, high-value crops by implementing the following activities:
1. Establishment of new, high-value crops
a. Identification of farmers willing to participate, who own at least one jerib of land and access to irrigation and a road
b. Registration of participating beneficiary land and planting preparations, including layouts and designs of orchards and vineyards
c. Distribution of various fruit and nut saplings; as well as grapevine cuttings to be planted.
2. Improvement of production quality for new and established crops
a. Provision of high-quality vegetable seed to be intercropped in newly established orchards
b. Provision of pre-harvest cultivation tools, such as pruning shears and saws for orchards; and trellis and gripple materials for vineyards
c. Training on how to effectively utilize agriculture inputs and tools
d. On-farm technical assistance and monitoring
To date, 350,000 high-value saplings and grape vines have been distributed for the establishment of more than 700 hectares of orchards or vineyards, and more than 5,000 farmers trained in improved pre- and post-harvest techniques to enhance quality and increase yields of high-value crops.
This year alone and in preparation for spring planting, the program distributed nearly 230,000 saplings or grapevine cuttings to 1,900 farmers for the establishment of high-value, perennial crops on 450 hectares of land.
Additionally, CBARD technical teams provided technical assistance or training to more than 3,000 farmers with either newly established or mature high-value crops.
Through its USAID-funded program (the Agriculture Marketing Program (AMP)) Roots of Peace is addressing both long-term and immediate food security needs. In the past year we've planted more than 1 million saplings so that farmers can reap the benefits of high-value fruits.
We also provide training and inputs so that farmers can intercrop their orchards with nutrition-rich vegetables. With Afghanistan's food security needs increasingly at the forefront of our mission, these crops, planted in orchards while the trees mature, will help farmers feed their families and sell in the local market. This photo shows intercropping in a mature orchard.
Please join us as we plant the Roots of Peace this Earth Day: rootsofpeace.org/donate