Incentives Driving Economic Alternatives for the North, East and West (IDEA-NEW) Monthly Report—June 2013

The program's mission is to support the stabilization and transition of Afghanistan by expanding the licit agricultural economy in the northern, eastern and western regions of the country. IDEA-NEW focuses on activities that promote income generation and job creation through increased commercial agricultural opportunities for Afghan farmers in poppy-prone areas. IDEA-NEW's programming is implemented in seventeen provinces across Regional Commands-North, East and West. The program works closely with provincial- and district-level government and local communities to build strong relationships among local stakeholders. Three partners implement IDEA-NEW: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) programs in the East and West, ACDI/VOCA operates in the North, and Mercy Corps works in the Northeast. IDEA-NEW's programming focuses around eight value chains: grapes, orchard crops, vegetables, poultry, wheat, silk, honey and karakul. In June 2013, IDEA-NEW's efforts to convert traditional vineyards to commercial I and T trellising systems continued throughout the month in newly established vineyards. Eleven vineyards, measuring 2.38 hectares, were trellised and a total of 1,622 concrete posts were installed. To date, 39.07 hectares have been trellised in Faryab, Jawzjan, Balkh, Samangan and Sari Pul provinces. IDEA-NEW's progress towards its 2013 goal of 50 hectares of converted vineyards is as follows: Samangan province has achieved 99% completion, Faryab province has achieved 85% completion, Sari Pul province has achieved 66% completion, Jawzjan province has achieved 50% completion, and Balkh province has achieved 62% completion. Purchase orders were signed with two private sector partners to produce 500 concrete trellising posts in Mazar-e-Sharif district (Balkh) and 570 in Shibirghan (Jawzjan). IDEA-NEW's northeastern team conducted disease management and grapevine shoot thinning field days in seven vineyard demonstration plots in Dawlatabad district (Faryab), Chimtal and Dihdadi (Balkh), Shibirghan (Jawzjan) and Feroz Nakhchir and Hazrati Sultan (Samangan). One sixty two individuals, including demonstration plot owners and neighboring vineyard owners, attended to learn about powdery mildew disease and the correct timing and application of wettable sulfur spray. Vine shoot thinning and the benefits of converting to a trellising system were also discussed. IDEA-NEW-assisted honey cooperatives in Badakhshan received an order from Finest Supermarket in Kabul to supply an additional 600 kilograms of honey for 240,000 Afghanis. The Parwan Raisin Producers Cooperative (PRPC) completed its first fairtrade audit by FLO-CERT, an independent international certification agency for fairtrade production processes and products. Three IDEA-NEW-assisted honey cooperatives in Badakhshan received an order from Finest Supermarket in Kabul to supply an additional 600 kilograms of honey for 240,000 Afghanis. IDEA-NEW's programming also includes strengthening farm to market linkages in economic development corridors in its three target regions. The program works to grow viable agribusinesses by facilitating connections between producers, traders and buyers through market information activities and sales promotion. IDEA-NEW's efforts to promote income generation and job creation through increased commercial agricultural opportunities for Afghan farmers in poppy-prone areas have shown positive results, with 612 farmers trained at 18 wheat harvesting field days held at IDEA-NEW established demonstration plots in five Northern provinces.