Natural Resource Management

Through our rural development activities, we work to help farmers manage their natural resources efficiently and sustainably, enabling them to build a secure and self-sufficient future for themselves and the wider community.

In Faryab province, for example, we are offering farmers technical training in how to design and manage more efficient irrigation systems. After too many consecutive years of wheat farming, these crops serve to rehabilitate the soil, and also require far less water than most other crops. So far, this has helped farmers irrigate 1,500 hectares of pistachio and almond plantations.

In Herat, we are promoting saffron cultivation as a viable alternative to poppy farming. Being one of only a few crops able to thrive under the highly varied seasonal climatic conditions found in Afghanistan and as a high-value crop, saffron has the potential to change the lives of thousands of Afghan farmers. In addition, the nature of saffron cultivation means that 80 percent of the activities related to saffron cultivation can be carried out by women, thus contributing to their economic empowerment.

Since 2004 we have been training farmers in saffron cultivation. In addition to training on  how to grow high quality saffron, assistance on how to process and market saffron successfully is necessary, if farmers are to reap the full economic benefits of transitioning to saffron farming. As part of this work, we help farmers organise into saffron associations to enable them to more effectively and efficiently process and market their saffron. In 2008 alone, 19 local saffron associations received training from our staff in saffron production and marketing.

Watch our film on saffron farmingSee saffron farming in actionRead our saffron manual
Other natural resource management projects  include the support of farmers in the establishment of nurseries, including training in cultivation, transplanting, pruning and budding; the establishment of fish farms and reaching  Afghan farmers with animal husbandry messages including the proper feeding, housing, vaccination and breeding of livestock.

Case Study

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Women and Development

As an organisation we are highly committed to the active involvement of women in the development process. Ho...

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Hygiene Education

At DACAAR, we realise that it takes more than the provision of safe water to transform lives. Th...

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A well is being drilled in a returnee settlement in Nangarhar province as part of DACAAR’s water supply and sanitation activities. Wells provide vulnerable families with clean and easily accessible water, reducing mortality and the burden on women and chi
A well is being drilled in a returnee settlement in Nangarhar province as part of DACAAR’s water supply and sanitation activities. Wells provide vulnerable families with clean and easily accessible water, reducing mortality and the burden on women and chi
DACAAR promotes community empowerment by working directly with village councils in the implementation of all projects.
DACAAR promotes community empowerment by working directly with village councils in the implementation of all projects.
A tanker provides desperately needed water to families in a returnee settlement in Nangarhar province as part of DACAAR’s emergency response efforts.
A tanker provides desperately needed water to families in a returnee settlement in Nangarhar province as part of DACAAR’s emergency response efforts.
Women make candles to sell in the local market as part of DACAAR's vocational training activities to facilitate economic empowerment of women.
Women make candles to sell in the local market as part of DACAAR's vocational training activities to facilitate economic empowerment of women.
As part of DACAAR’s rural development activities, farmers are provided with training in Saffron growing as an alternative to opium farming. The project also trains women to be essential actors in the growing and harvesting of saffron.
As part of DACAAR’s rural development activities, farmers are provided with training in Saffron growing as an alternative to opium farming. The project also trains women to be essential actors in the growing and harvesting of saffron.
As part of DACAAR’s Water Supply and Sanitation activities a motorized pipe scheme and reservoir were installed to provide families in Faryab province with clean and easily accessible water.
As part of DACAAR’s Water Supply and Sanitation activities a motorized pipe scheme and reservoir were installed to provide families in Faryab province with clean and easily accessible water.
DACAAR installs hand pumps, like the one featured, in order to provide villages with safe, clean water.
DACAAR installs hand pumps, like the one featured, in order to provide villages with safe, clean water.
A beneficiary demonstrates his newly acquired welding skills provided through DACAAR’s rural development capacity building activities.
A beneficiary demonstrates his newly acquired welding skills provided through DACAAR’s rural development capacity building activities.
A trainer from DACAAR’s hygiene education team delivers a message about proper hygiene and sanitation practices to families in Nangarhar province as part of DACAAR’s continued effort to reduce the mortality and morbidity caused by waterborne diseases.
A trainer from DACAAR’s hygiene education team delivers a message about proper hygiene and sanitation practices to families in Nangarhar province as part of DACAAR’s continued effort to reduce the mortality and morbidity caused by waterborne diseases.
A beneficiary of one of DACAAR’s Natural Resource Management uses drip irrigation to grow crops in Faryab province. Training farmers to effectively use limited water resources is a key element of DACAAR projects to improve the livelihoods of the Afghan pe
A beneficiary of one of DACAAR’s Natural Resource Management uses drip irrigation to grow crops in Faryab province. Training farmers to effectively use limited water resources is a key element of DACAAR projects to improve the livelihoods of the Afghan pe