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IFHope's tree nursery near Jalalabad is the largest in Afghanistan with over 2,000,000 fruit, nut and reforestation saplings.
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IFHope Nursery
IFHope has a unique asset in its 73 hectare tree nursery near Jalalabad. A recent study conducted for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) highlights IFHope’s success in establishing the largest horticultural nursery in the country with over 2,000,000 seedlings.
More than 1,000,000 fruit and nut saplings grow in this nursery including almonds, apricots, citrus, pomegranate, guava, apples and peaches. There are also more than 1,000,000 forest trees including eucalyptus, mulberry, poplar, bottle brush, cypress, cedar and pine. Mulberry is valued as an ornamental tree, as well as for its fruit when dried. Poplar grows very quickly and is used for building construction. A small block of “edible pine”, produces pine nuts.
Each tree is grafted on local rootstock to maximize adaptability and potential for successful growth. Some 200,000 apricots will be ready to send to farmers this fall. Other major plantings this year include 300,000 almonds, 100,000 pomegranates and others, including guava, persimmon, plum, peach, apple, mango, mulberry, pear and fig. In the citrus block, sour orange rootstock is grafted with two lemon varieties, tangerine and blood (sweet) orange trees.
  
The nursery not only grows trees, but nurtures skilled entrepreneurs as well. Recently, two former employees who were trained as grafters have opened their own practice.
In the first two years, some 125,000 fruit trees have been distributed to 370 local farmers producing 330 hectares of orchard to augment farm income and replace their reliance on poppy. Over 355,000 shade and forest trees have been provided to public places; schools, parks, public buildings, roadside plantings.
Ongoing operation of the nursery is supported through private funds.
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