69363 v1 Public Disclosure Authorized FINAL REPORT: “SUPPORTING FEMALE SAFFRON PRODUCERS IN VALUE ADDITION ACTIVITIES IN HERAT PROVINCE” Public Disclosure Authorized SUBMITTED TO THE WORLD BANK FEBRUARY - DECEMBER 2010 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Paikob-e-Naswar, Wazirabad, PO Box 208, Kabul, Afghanistan Phone: (+93)(020) 220 17 50 Mobile (+93)(0)70 28 82 32 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.dacaar.org 1 Before women’s involvement in saffron, some men beat their wives if the tea was late but now these men make tea for their wives because they are busy during the saffron season....... -Saffron Association Head, Pashtun Zarghun Background of the project: Saffron cultivation was brought back to Afghanistan in the early 1990s by farmers who migrated to Iran during the periods of conflict. DACAAR initiated a trial farming of saffron with four farmers from Pashtun Zarghun in 1998. Though it was difficult initially to convince the farmers to grow saffron as an alternative to opium, which was prevalent in Herat, today Pashtun Zarghun alone has more than 750 farmers growing saffron, including 175 women. Women have a significant role in saffron production amounting to 80% of the total work, with most of the work in harvesting, processing and packaging, but a very limited role in marketing and price negotiation with traders; men usually take over during the marketing stage of the spice. Given the role of women in saffron production and its potential in empowering women through engagement in economic activities, DACAAR supported the establishment of a female saffron association in 2006 in Pashtun Zarghun district (Herat province) with initial membership of 70 women who produced 700 kg of saffron corm. Currently, the association has 175 members and has distributed 3,000 kg of saffron corm to 157 women up to the end of 2010. DACAAR started working with another women’s association in Ghoryan established by ICARDA/ MAIL, which has a membership of 480 women in the new project funded by the World Bank. There has been a significant increase in members and in saffron plantation. The quality of saffron, however, suffered due to lack of proper trainings and access to necessary equipments/ materials. Objective To improve women livelihoods through supporting women saffron producers in Herat and to undertake higher level value addition activities at producer level. In this context, DACAAR implemented a pilot project funded by the World Bank with the stated objective and to try out key recommendations of the gender and value chain study. This was to be achieved by improving the quality of saffron and linking women producers to the market. To achieve the abovementioned objective the following activities were implemented. Conducted workshop to establish Saffron Stakeholder Forum in Herat . Selected activities to promote economic empowerment of women through improving women’s position in the saffron value chain 2 . Conducted a workshop with saffron stakeholders to document lessons learned (mid-term) . Developed an Operational Manual and illustrative posters . Implemented selected activities . Documented final lessons learned Results This document outlines the achievements in terms of output and activities and the result of subprojects implemented by two women saffron producers’ associations. The impact of the project is elaborated in the separate “Lessons Learned” document. The result framework is different in each district due to market access, communication facilities, education/ awareness and family support. Security also had a major impact on market and pricing negotiation. Please see Annex A for the results framework. Key outcomes The women association in Pashtun Zarghun was able to produce 10 Kgs Saffron and to achieve a selling price increase of 50%. The women association in Ghoryan was able to produce 12 Kgs saffron and to achieve a selling price increase of 114%. In both associations, women were actively involved in professional sorting and packaging of saffron. While in Ghoryan all women have access to dryers, Pashtun Zarghun women’s access to dryers was limited to 56% due to the security situation affecting women movement in the district. The association head in Ghoryan is much more active, mobile and resourceful in marketing the spice, as compared to the Pashtun Zarghun head. She has good relations with traders and wholesalers, and this factor has contributed greatly to the higher selling price. Additionally, the Ghoryan women association has better access to the Herat main market due to good means of communication and security, as compared to Pashtun Zarghun. The people of Ghoryan are relatively more open- minded and educated than Pashtun Zarghun, allowing the women to market the spice directly to donors, local Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and others. The Ghoryan women association has tapped into the international market to some extent through exhibitions and NGO contacts, which has enabled them to sell saffron at a higher price. The deteriorating security situation in Pashtun Zarghun has limited the mobility of women and left them with fewer opportunities to market saffron. The access to the Herat main market is restricted and they have to rely on their husbands and male guardians/ companions to market the spice. Marketing and contacting to other NGOs and donors is done indirectly through male counterparts. Both associations learned how to negotiate and implement a marketing strategy – price and trend – despite the security restrictions for Pashtun Zarghun members. Hygiene awareness was also increased, which is important for health and overall 3 quality of product. If the quality improves, saffron can be sold at even higher prices as compared with other traditional products. 1. Stakeholder Forum A saffron value chain stakeholder forum was established on 17 February 2010 involving government departments, women associations, traders and NGOs. A workshop was conducted in Herat from 17-18 February 2010 with participants from women saffron growers’ association from Pashtun Zarghun and Ghoryan districts of Herat, male saffron growers’ association, government officials, local traders and NGOs with the following objectives. To Identify the saffron value chain stakeholders in Herat and their roles and responsibilities to improve women’s position in the saffron value chain To create a forum of saffron value chain stakeholders To understand the constraints for women in saffron value chain and find possible solutions To select two pilot projects for women aimed at upgrading the level of women in the value chain During the workshop, the forum agreed to short term and medium term goals to improve women’s position in the saffron value chain and a commitment to work on immediate objectives was secured. Some of the suggested goals included: Mobilisation of high school graduates as trainers Offer support to Herat University in order to strengthen saffron research and development Establishment of a saffron institution at Herat University with the aim of developing a saffron curriculum for agricultural courses Support the development of female saffron specialists Promote an Afghan brand name of saffron internationally Saffron Value Chain Board was formed with three members: 1. Dean of Agriculture Faculty, University of Herat 2. SDO 3. DACAAR 2. Value Chain Addition Grant for Women Identification of two pilot projects On 18 Feb 2010, associations from Pashtun Zarghun and Ghoryan met at DACAAR office to identify two pilot projects. DACAAR staff facilitated the formulation of projects with the associations. The two women associations each developed one pilot project. Pashtun Zarghun Association chose a project to improve women’s income by improving saffron quality and packaging. 4 The planned outcome for income increase for Pashtun Zarghun is expected to be met by April as the price will gradually increase until then. Due to insecurity and the large distance between villages, only 50 women out of a planned target of 90 women for output 1 were able to gain access to and use dryers. The target for increased quantity of saffron dried in the drying machines for output 1 was met with women harvesting, drying and sorting 10Kgs of saffron (900 grams have been sold). The target for output 2 was surpassed with 45 women trained in sorting and grading. The target for output 2 was surpassed with 90 women trained on drying and processing. Ghoryan Association chose a project of improving women’s income by improving saffron quality, packaging and sale. The planned outcome for Ghoryan was surpassed and an income increase of 114% was achieved. 69% of the targeted saffron sales were achieved in 2010. As a sales strategy, the women are waiting to sell the remainder (to meet the goal of 20% increase in sales) when the price increases in 2011. The target for output 1 was surpassed with 60 women now having access to dryers. The target for output 2 was achieved with 122 women now involved in professional packaging, including the availability of 3,200 containers. The target for output 3 was surpassed with 60 women having received improved capacity in grading and sorting through training. The target for output 4 was surpassed with 55 women having received improved capacity in packaging though training. Procurement of Goods DACAAR supervised and assisted in procurement of goods for the implementation of the identified projects. In May, the women associations called for quotations for the supply of dryers, containers, gloves, pins etc. The quotations were collected and opened in the presence of DACAAR. The members associations compared the quality and price of the materials and agreed on suppliers. The associations received the ordered equipment in June 2010. Renovation of a centre in Pashtun Zarghun Pashtun Zarghun women’s association renovated an unused house belonging to the head of the association in order to use the space for drying saffron. The head of the association agreed to make this house available for the use of the association until the association is fully operational.The house has been restored and equipped with four dryers and one generator.