Community Based NRM in Badakhshan Province
?Community Based NRM in Badakhshan Province?
The majority of rural households in this province depend on small holdings for subsistence farming, and consequently on the productivity of rangeland resources. However a number of factors over time has resulted in significant reductions in biomass stocks and water availability in the region. The source of livelihood of the majority of rural households in this district is from rain-fed agriculture, raising livestock and growing wheat. Before 1980, pistachio forestry was the main income generating source of these communities. However, the last three decades have resulted in uncontrolled grazing and biomass collection (fuel and firewood), which significantly reduced soil fertility and increased erosion. Human activity is compounded by years of drought, which have significantly reduced agriculture productivity levels and the ability of many households to secure their food and income. Constant drought in particular has significantly increased the risk of food insecurity among these communities where farmers lost almost 100% of their harvest. Farmers often resort to selling their livestock, or forced to regularly migrate to areas outside the province in search for work, including to Iran or Pakistan. In some cases, entire households had to move to areas with higher economic potential. The current situation is thus critical and in need of immediate, appropriate and well coordinated action.
Through this Community Based Natural Resource Management Project, the AHEAD NRM team aims to recreate the conditions to reintroduce pistachio for income generation development to counter the economic effects of the droughts and low productivity. The project site is suitable for the testing and demonstration of alternative arid land plantation methods. The project will cover a catchment area of approximately 25 hectares, and undertake activities such as construction of trenches, check dams and other necessary construction for water management. In addition, a 5,000 sqm area is earmarked for setting up nurseries in three clusters spread across 20 villages of Bahrak district.
The majority of rural households in this province depend on small holdings for subsistence farming, and consequently on the productivity of rangeland resources. However a number of factors over time has resulted in significant reductions in biomass stocks and water availability in the region. The source of livelihood of the majority of rural households in this district is from rain-fed agriculture, raising livestock and growing wheat. Before 1980, pistachio forestry was the main income generating source of these communities. However, the last three decades have resulted in uncontrolled grazing and biomass collection (fuel and firewood), which significantly reduced soil fertility and increased erosion. Human activity is compounded by years of drought, which have significantly reduced agriculture productivity levels and the ability of many households to secure their food and income. Constant drought in particular has significantly increased the risk of food insecurity among these communities where farmers lost almost 100% of their harvest. Farmers often resort to selling their livestock, or forced to regularly migrate to areas outside the province in search for work, including to Iran or Pakistan. In some cases, entire households had to move to areas with higher economic potential. The current situation is thus critical and in need of immediate, appropriate and well coordinated action.
Through this Community Based Natural Resource Management Project, the AHEAD NRM team aims to recreate the conditions to reintroduce pistachio for income generation development to counter the economic effects of the droughts and low productivity. The project site is suitable for the testing and demonstration of alternative arid land plantation methods. The project will cover a catchment area of approximately 25 hectares, and undertake activities such as construction of trenches, check dams and other necessary construction for water management. In addition, a 5,000 sqm area is earmarked for setting up nurseries in three clusters spread across 20 villages of Bahrak district.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Assistance for Health, Education and Development
Country:
Afghanistan
Area Of Work:
Land Degradation
Grant Amount:
US$ 49,844.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 26,950.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 14,150.00
Project Number:
AFG/SGP/OP4/Y3/RAF/14/21
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
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