Are wheat seeds distribution programs suitable for all farmers in today’s Afghanistan?’ By Jean-Christophe Duchier, agronomist, junior researcher UNDERSTAND LOCAL DIVERSITY TO DESIGN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS

Plan 1. Research’s issues 2. Baharak, a densely populated valley 3. Which households’ diversity? 4. Which programs’ diversity?

1. Research issues Are “wheat seeds distribution program” always relevant? How to ensure a better integration of relief and development programs?

2. Baharak, a densely populated valley Description Agricultural history

Baharak, a densely populated valley Where is it?

Baharak, a densely populated valley Mainly irrigated fields 50,000 inhabitants Sub-urban area Located on the main road crossing Badakhshan Characteristics

Three periods Agropastoral period 1930 Wheat replaces grazing land Cash crop including poppy are increasing in the cropping pattern General development (especially health, education) MORE and MORE people War and END of war (returnees and new consumptio n goods) -Low population density - Remote area More people so: 1.Basic food needs increase 2.Land pressure increases -Most of the infrastructures are destroyed - Lots of refugees come back - The central government has less power -Minimum diversification (meat, bread, vegetable) - Priorities were given to livestock breeding thanks to the low land pressure -Less fallow and grazing land -Prority is given to cereals to cover the increasing food needs Intensification is the natural evolution of this agriculture Land becomes extremely rare Land price are unaffordable Government’s UN’s, NGO’s programs Baharak, a densely populated valley

3. How to address the households’ diversity? Typology as a tool The land capital The labour ratio

Which households diversity? Why a typology? To have a comprehensive view of the households’ diversity To identify relevant projects for every types of farmers

1,25 jb/adult* LAND ratio LABOUR ratio * Adult = > 12 years old Which households diversity? Land ratio

Why THIS typology? Wheat is the most important crop in the afghan “culture”. One adult needs 1,25 jerib to be self-sufficient in wheat WHY 1.25 jb/adult? One adult eats 35 ser of wheat per year One jerib gives about 100 sers of wheat Wheat is a biennale crop. Cost of production: 20 % and 25 sers 35 / {(100-20%-25) / 2}= 1,25 All data comes from 100 random interviews

Division of land during the transmission or Birth of children Difficult to build up again the land capital because of land pressure 1,25 jb/adult* 1 male worker can support 2 other family members LAND ratio LABOUR ratio * Adult = > 12 years old Women’s work outside the compound is unusual in Baharak Big land owners 20% Small land owners 40% Landless 40% Which households diversity? Labour ratio

Why 1 male worker can support 2 other adults? 3 adults need 75 to 100 afs per day for basic food and about afs/day for fuel: 125 to 200 afs/day Basic food: 23 to 32 afs/day per adult One worker can at the least support 3 adults On day labourer: 150 afs/day Daily salary: 150 to 300 afs/day. It is regarding the season, type of job... On day labourer doesn’t work throughout the year Fuel, clothes are essential: (50 to 100 afs/day and per family)

Division of land during the transmission or Birth of children Difficult to build up again the land capital because of land pressure Change of family structure: The elders children are able to work Change of family structure: birth of children 1,25 jb/adult* 1 male worker can support 2 other family members LAND ratio LABOUR ratio * Adult = > 12 years old Lack of worker 80% Enough workers 20% Which households diversity?

Households able to produce surpluses or/and have enough domestic workers (30%) Households grow high-value crops Households keep on farming wheat and resort to non farm activities 6 types of households 1,25 jb/adult Big land owners Small land owners Landless Credits and assets depletion (70 %) Lack of workerEnough workers 1 male worker can support 2 other family members Farming systems based on wheat Women’s involvement in agricultural tasks Non farm acrivities

4. Which programs’ diversity? Development programs have to be diversified Development programs should be flexible enough to integrate relief programs

Which development programs? 1,25 jb/adult* 1 male worker can support 2 other family members LAND ratio LABOUR ratio Wheat seeds distribution programs are not efficient for these households. These programs prevent them to try out other cropping systems High value crops could be more adapted But, these cropping systems request lots of labour force Since these households have enough male domestic workers, they are less receptive to this type of programs Programs have to be adapted to the local diversity in order to be relevant and sustainable Big land owners Small land owners Landless Lack of workerEnough workers Programs have to involve women to get over the lack of male domestic workers Since these households are facing a lack of male domestic workers, they can be receptive to this type of programs 80% of households do not have enough land to produce an extra

About poppy… Decision making process Location: the government has more or less control Credit: Poppy allows access to credit Attracted to new consumption goods Land ratio Poppy chain is the most developed crop chain Crisis: war, drought, disease… There are many factors which influence farmers. Each one has to be taken into account

68% Relief or development 1,25 jb/adult* 1 male worker can support 2 other family members LAND ratio LABOUR ratio Big land owners Small land owners Landless Lack of workerEnough workers

Activity system Households’ needs FARMING ACTIVITY NON FARM ACTVITIES SHOCKS NON FARM ACTIVITIESCREDITASSETS DEPLETION Non farm activities are non sufficient for the housholds facing a lack of male domestic workers Credits are expensive (debt burden) Benefits from development programs might be lost Relief programs Development programs should be flexible enough to integrate relief programs

Conclusion Local diversity exists and has to be taken into account. (women example) More field studies in order to understand the local diversity Program design should be based on the local staff knowledge

Thank you for your attention If you have any question….