ROP Farmer Success Story August 2007

Mohammad Wali with his Apricot Orchard

Malik Mohammad Wali is one of the ALP/E-ROP beneficiaries in Joi-25 village of Shin War District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. When ROP staff first contacted him in early February 2007, he was somewhat skeptical about participating in the orchard establishment program. He was concerned about ROP’s insistence that he make a cash contribution for each sapling he received. Now, due to the good quality of the saplings and the technical assistance provided by ROP, he is happy that he decided to participate. He has become a proponent of the ROP program and has convinced 16 of his neighbors to participate.  Additionally, he has been selected by his neighbors to be their group leader. He and his co-participant farmers are hopeful of receiving better incomes from their orchards than other crops. They say this increased income will assist them to send their children to school and to increase their families’ wellbeing in the future. It is obvious that he has taken good care of the trees. When they were planted in March, they were not much taller than the level of his elbow. Now, 6 months later, they are well above the height of his head.