August 4, 2009

USDA/RoP Afghan Program “Bears Fruit”— Kishmishi Grapes show Clusters of Hope.

The goal of the RoP/USDA Project is to increase grape and apple production, productivity and incomes in the agricultural sector in the provinces of Ghazni, Logar and Wardouk in Afghanistan. The purpose of the RoP/USDA Project is to improve technologies developed and adapted for the production, processing and marketing of selected fruit crops. Dozens of Afghan farmers line up to learn latest agricultural techniques which will double-triple their income when Roots of Peace agricultural techniques are applied.

The RoP/USDA Project focuses on three important areas of agriculture (a) New Orchards, (b) Upgraded Vineyards and (c) Post Harvest Services. The Post Harvest Services program will include activities in fresh and dried fruit post harvest grading, sorting, packing, drying, storage and marketing.

RoP will provide appropriate dryers, sun drying facilities, fruit packing facilities and fresh and dried fruit storage facilities to farmers and farmer groups located in the projected supported areas. Further the project will provide training to middlemen—those collecting fruit products from producers and passing these products on to wholesalers and others selling to the ultimate consumer.

Three apple nurseries will be established in Wardak and Ghazni—954 new apple orchards will be established in Wardak and 217 in Ghazni. 250 Farmers will be trained on codling math control in Ghazni and 1150 farmers in Wardak. Trap and cartons will be distributed to 160 apple farmers.

The RoP extension team established nurseries to produce quality apple sapling in Ghazni and Wardak—these nurseries will have more than 60,000 saplings for future plantings. RoP/USDA extensions are working closely with the mentioned area farmers to promote their production of Afghan produce.

May Afghan farmers greet a new Harvest of Hope in 2009…