Afghanistan Village Decision Driven Research Project Research in Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF)
Project Description
The Research in Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF) is a unique opportunity that promotes economically viable alternatives to poppy production and restores food security to Afghanistan. Working together, Washington State University (WSU) and the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR) complement each other in their strength to implement both research and development issues pertaining to the livelihoods of rural farmers in Afghanistan.
Where Afghanistan has again become the world’s largest supplier of opium, in 2003 supplying approximately 75% of global production, and poppy production has increased in terms of both quantities and geographical spread. The Afghan Transitional Administration is committed to reducing poppy cultivation, but recognizes the development of alternative livelihood opportunities should go hand in hand with efficient law and order enforcement in the target areas.
Alternative livelihoods should not just be considered experiments, but initiatives are formed by an understanding of both the local situation and the ability to turn local produce into marketable products. There are three major aspects of this approach: To establish a thorough understanding of how the poppy economy is integrated in livelihood strategies in the target area; to analyze and identify opportunities existing within the specific agro ecological zone in a dialogue with local farmers and build up the capacity to carry out these analyses; to examine the opportunities for marketing the products identified.
The purpose of the work is to create an approach that will solicit ideas from farmers for alternatives to poppy production, which can be addressed through research and development. Then to develop a structure that integrates needs and opportunities defined by village organizations (VOs) with the research capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MAAH) and the implementation ability of the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR). And finally to examine in which ways the natural resource base can be turned into marketable commodities
These will be carried out in four general activities:
- Village level participatory livelihood analysis that serves to establish how poppy production is integrated in local household strategies, and the local asset base for the pursuit of alternative livelihood opportunities.
- Needs assessment and improved capacity of an MAAH agricultural research station to respond to village organization requests.
- Analysis of the potential for marketing the products identified during the survey.
Implemented pilot activities where the data from outputs 1 and 3 are used to initiate marketing of products. - Implemented pilot activities where the data from outputs 1 and 3 are used to initiate marketing of products.
The project intends to train DACAAR staff and MAAH personnel on survey construction, administration and analysis, which along with the participation of VOs will identify alternative livelihoods for farmers. The project will then use this output to identify the needs of the MAAH’s research facilities to address the needs of farmers. The project will procure and train researchers at the MAAH guiding them through the process of the development of the alternative enterprises.
Also included under the RALF program is the development of saffron as a cash crop alternative. This includes training of local producers and field staff in agronomic practices, introduction of improved processing and packaging practices, and establishment of mechanisms for efficient and profitable marketing of saffron products. This program is organized into four general activities:
- Survey of farm economics in relation to saffron production
- Analysis of national and international marketing potentials
- Training of DACAAR staff and potential producers in production
- Establishment of producers’ associations and mechanisms for quality control and marketing
Duration
2004-2008
Clients and Partners
Funding Agency
- International Cooperation for Ag. Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
WSU Contact Person
Dr. Chris Pannkuk pannkuk@wsu.edu