Overall objective:

To contribute to poverty alleviation amongst the Afghan rural population in the Central Provinces of Kabul, Wardak, Logar and Paktya

Specific objective:

Nursery owners (male and female) in the target areas

Fruit and nut growers  (male and female) in the target areas

1. An increase in the number of proficient nurseries and in the output of certified planting material of a high commercial standard.
2. An increase in orchard output and grower income.
3. Suppliers, nurseries, growers, and wholesalers/traders in project area form or join cooperatives, producer groups or other commercial and self-regulating associations to the economic gain of all stakeholders

1. Detailed survey of fruit/nut industry in target areas, especially nurserymen and growers and their markets.
2. Selection of nursery and grower beneficiaries in consultation with local Shuras and MAI leading to the planting of new nurseries and orchards and the modernisation of existing ones.
3. Selection of new fruit types and varieties suitable to local growing conditions, with yield and market potential based on the above surveys..
4. Knowledge generation of best practices in horticulture through formal training, participative technology development, student interns, study tours, fostering lead farmers, mentoring local MAI etc.
5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Drip Irrigation.  Expat specialists will be brought in to help design programmes and trials, and to train farmers and local staff.  This builds upon existing GPFA practical experience in IPM and Drip.
6. Promotion and establishment of Associations and Producer Groups using a bottom-up approach to create horizontal linkages between growers and vertical linkages in the supply and market chain.
7. Reduction of post-harvest losses through training in handling and better packaging and refrigerated transport.
8. Construct simple fruit stores and train farmers in their management and replication.