Over 5,000 farmers in Nangarhar and Laghman provinces have recognized the potential for orchards as a high value alternative to poppy. They are endorsing the Eastern Region Orchard Development Program (ERODP) by putting their valuable land into the program, investing the time and resources to bring the orchards into production and pledging not to grow poppies.

This USAID activity map shows new orchards planted in the last year through the Alternative Livelihoods Program (ALP).

(Click Map for Expanded View)

Despite increasing pressure to plant poppies, nearly 5,000 acres have already been enrolled for phase II of the Eastern Region Orchard Development Program (ERODP) Alternative Livelihoods Program- East (ALP/E). “The sign-up has gone extremely well” said Jim Du Bruille, Director of IFHope. “We have significantly exceeded our target of 3,700 acres.”

Du Bruille attributes the success, in part, to the first 500,000 trees planted last year which are developing into established orchards. "Neighboring farmers see the trees being planted. They see the trees growing and orchards becoming established. They see the potential and they are asking if they can also be part of the program” said Du Bruille. The motivational impact is expected to multiply exponentially once the orchards begin producing.

“We are significantly ahead of last year’s schedule” Du Bruille continued. "At this time a year ago, we were barely getting started because the project had just been approved. This year, the sign-up phase has already been completed.” Site survey, orchard design and planting is on target to be finished by the end of February, a month sooner than the first year’s planting. This will allow the trees to become better established during the cool weather which will improve tree survival.

The key to this project’s acceptance is partnership. IFHope believes in working within the traditional village shura system at every phase. IFHope fieldstaff discuss the importance of orchards as an alternative to poppy with village elders, shura members and farmers. As a result, many farmers are making a conscious choice of orchards over poppies.

“Offering this ALP program following the dramatic reduction in poppy cultivation in 2005 is critical" said Du Bruille. "Farmers were told they would be given alternatives. They want alternatives. USAID is stepping up to the plate by offering this program through DAI.”

Given the high farmer enrollment and their willingness to remove poppies rather than be dropped from the program, it is evident that the ERODP is an important component of the USAID’s overall ALP program being managed in the region by DAI through ALP/E. This program is providing an opportunity for an alternative livelihood that farmers are willing to pursue.

Professors from Nangarhar University participate in extension training module development during a December visit to Jalalabad by Iowa State University.

Crop production and extension training modules are being developed for use this spring by extension personnel with the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Nangarhar Valley Development Authority (NVDA) farm managers, and Nangarhar University faculty.

Iowa State University and UC Davis are partnering with IFHope and consulting with professors from Nangarhar University and with extension agents to develop educational tools customized to the unique needs of local farmers. Completed modules will be translated into Pashto, distributed in print and on DVD and offered during training sessions in the spring of 2007.

Mary Holz-Clause, interim Associate Vice President for Extension and Outreach for ISU, and Dr. Lynn Jones, Professor Emeritus/International Coordinator of the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center at Iowa State University recently visited Jalalabad to present a draft of the training module and conduct further needs assessment. The training modules will be modified based on input received at the meeting.

The presentation drew a large audience. “The participation was very good and we had a lot of positive feedback” said Holz-Clause. The presentation also received wide coverage on Afghan National TV and radio.

Increasing the expertise and number of trained professionals as well as reaching individual farmers through workshops and farm visits is a foundational piece of Eastern Region Orchard Development Program (ERODP) plan for expanding the agriculture capacity of the area.

IFHope’s trained staff of agricultural specialists visit each participating farmer regularly to provide training and advice on pest management, irrigation management, fertility management, tree training and pruning.

IFHope is a US based Non Governmental Organization (NGO) that recognizes and values the tremendous potential of the people of Afghanistan. IFHope has been in Afghanistan since 1998 working in three interrelated areas: economic development, community empowerment, and education. IFHope values partnership rather than competition or duplication of effort and promotes no political or religious agenda.

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