Blossoming Dreams: Sardar Ghani's Orchard Transformation

Sardar Ghani, a 28-year-old farmer from Kodikhil village in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, is the sole provider for his family of nine, which includes his elderly and disabled mother, wife, four daughters, and two sons. Despite residing in a remote village, he takes pride in ensuring that all his children, except his eldest daughter, attend school, personally accompanying them each day.

Mr. Sardar Ghani shared his inspiring journey during an interview with the ActionAid, Afghanistan’s team. After facing severe poverty due to political upheaval in Afghanistan, Mr. Sardar struggled to support his family, they had four grips of agricultural land previously overseen by his late father. However, after his father's passing and changes in climate Sardar found himself lacking the necessary knowledge and tools to cultivate his land effectively, which was the primary income source for his family. He recalls a time when he had no agricultural products to sell and was at a loss about how to provide for his family. 

As he says on his own words:” I was the only son in the family, balancing my studies with work on our land. My father had always shouldered the responsibilities for our land and family although he had not received any modern trainings, he was only using the traditional methods for planting but We could earn around 80.000 AFN, from different products However, following his passing, the mantle fell upon me to care for the entire family. Regrettably, I lacked the necessary knowledge and skills at that crucial juncture. "

Sardar added: “After my father passed away, my mother fell ill. Being the only son, she found it hard to trust me to take care of the household responsibilities like my father did after, I didn’t have the tools and required skill for land managing, after school I liked to join university but due to poverty and other challenges, I couldn’t fulfil my that dream.”

Fortunately, in 2018, the ActionAid’s CBARD-ALL project identified Sardar’s potential as a farmer and helped him establish a plum orchard in a four Jeribs area. along with providing him training required agriculture inputs including saplings, fertilizers, and tools. Further, he was provided with technical assistance to prepare the faming land according to the nature of the crop (s), seed preparation and sowing as well as technical knowledge for pest management and post-harvest handing throughout the cropping season. He received all mentioned trainings and as well as tools. Thanks to their support, he began to see remarkable results. In 2023, his orchard produced plums worth approximately 100,000 AFN, and in the following year, that number skyrocketed to around 350,000 Afghanis.

He expressed heartfelt gratitude towards ActionAid, Afghanistan for the grate support, which has not only improved his agricultural practices, but also significantly boosted his economic stability and prosperity.

On his own words: “I am excited and incredibly happy to solve my economic problems. Agriculture is our inherited work, and without it, we cannot live here.”

He added: "I am immensely thankful for the transformative assistance provided by the CBARD-ALL project, which has turned my struggling orchard into a thriving source of income. In the past years before receiving support from CBARD-ALL project I only could earn less than 50.000AFN from my land , but on the first year of my plum orchard’s establishment my income was 100,000 and in the current year I have earned 350.000 AFN and with ongoing support, I am confident in

 overcoming obstacles and securing a brighter future for my beloved family and community.". 

However, he also highlighted a challenge, the risk of damage to his orchard from animals. Mr. Sardar earnestly requested additional support from the CBARD project for fencing his orchard, ensuring its protection as the plums mature. His commitment to safeguarding his orchard reflects his determination to secure a brighter future for his family and community.

Sardar Ghani's journey from hardship to prosperity stands as a testament to the transformative power of support and opportunity. Through the intervention of ActionAid’s CBARD project, Sardar's once-struggling orchard has blossomed into a thriving source of income, not only enriching his own life but also ensuring a brighter future for his family and community. The success of his plum orchard not only reflects his dedication and hard work but also highlights the impact of targeted assistance and training in empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth. Sardar's story serves as an inspiration, reminding us that with the right support and determination, even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome, leading to a future filled with promise and prosperity.