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sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Impacts of saffron projects and the effectiveness of agriculture extension services on transition from poppy to saffron in Pashtun Zarghun district of Afghanistan

Auteur : Nabizadah, R.

Université de soutenance : Wageningen University

Grade : Master of Science (MS) 2010

Résumé
This study intends to explore the impacts of saffron projects and the effectiveness of agriculture extension services on transition from poppy to saffron in Pashtun Zarghun district. The term extension has been used in highly variable connotes with different meaning at different context. Here in this study the term extension is used as a professional communication intervention deployed by and institution to induce change in a voluntary behaviour with a presumed public or collective utility. Currently that the cultivation and production of poppy is significantly increased in Afghanistan and changed to a global problem, the agriculture extension sector can play an important role in introducing alternative crops replace poppy. Considering the problem of poppy cultivation in Pashtun Zarghun district, DACAAR has worked on the extension of saffron as and alternative crop and implemented some projects aimed to the identification of alternative source of livelihood for the farmers who have been financially depended on poppy cultivation before. DACAAR has also established three saffron produces’ associations in 2005 and provided saffron corm for some of the members of these associations. But the women have formed the fourth association of their own in 2007. The main objective of this study is to identify and explore the impacts of saffron projects and the effectiveness of extension services for transition from poppy to saffron. For realizing the objective of this study the researcher used desk study as well as interviews and focus group discussions with the farmer group in the field. Interviews and focus group discussions were carried out by using open ended questions with farmers, saffron associations’ members including women saffron association. The finding of this research shows that different reasons have contributed for transition from poppy to saffron. Around 50% of men and women farmers have argued that the reason for changing from poppy to saffron was the high income delivered by saffron in compare to the poppy. Some other farmers have reported that the reasons for referring to saffron cultivation are the government pressure on farmers who are growing poppy and the high risk of poppy cultivation and production. They have further argued that saffron is a drought resistance crop which only needs 2 irrigations during the flowering season but it does not compete with irrigation needs of other crops. Regarding to the challenges, the extension workers stated that lack of communication and transportation facilities, shortage of field level extension worker and low level of salaries are the most important challenges faced by the extension workers in Pashtun Zarghun district. 39% of the men farmers have stated that in 2005 when they started cultivation of saffron, they had many technical problems with cultivation, harvesting and processing of saffron. They have also argued that the other challenges that they are facing are availability of saffron corm, insufficient extension and support services. The women farmers have stated that beside all the mention challenges they are also faced to the cultural constraints for participating in outdoor activities. Despite all the mentioned challenges faced by the extension workers and farmers the saffron cultivation and production have significantly increased since 2005. In 2005 the total area under saffron cultivation in this district was about 30 hectares which has increased to 50 ha in 2006 ; currently there are 150 hectares of land under saffron cultivation in this district. The area under poppy cultivation in 2004 to 2005 was over 180 hectares which is currently decreased to the zero and there are 800 saffron grower farmers divided in 4 associations in this district.

Mots clés : saffron / cultivation / production / agricultural extension / afghanistan / crocus sativus

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