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Directorate of Horticulture Development

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The Directorate of Horticulture Development is one of the key sectoral directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. Horticultural products constitute a fundamental and strategic component of the country’s agricultural sector. More than two million people are engaged in horticultural activities and earn their livelihoods through this sector.

Horticulture is recognized as an important source of income generation and employment opportunities in rural, semi-urban, and urban areas. Through cultivation, production, and the supply of products to domestic, regional, and international markets, the sector can create extensive economic opportunities.

Afghanistan possesses significant investment potential for increasing the production of vegetables such as potatoes, onions, tomatoes, watermelon, melon, cauliflower, cucumber, and greenhouse products, as well as fruits including grapes, apricots, apples, figs, almonds, pomegranates, walnuts, pistachios, cherries, and sour cherries. In addition, there are substantial opportunities in floriculture and post-harvest horticultural activities. These products account for more than 95 percent of the cultivated orchards and vineyards across the country.

Currently, Afghanistan imports a considerable amount of vegetables and fruits, particularly during off-season periods, from neighboring and other countries. This leads to the outflow of valuable foreign currency, threatens domestic production, and contributes to increased food prices within the country.

Organizational Structure

The Directorate of Horticulture Development consists of the following four departments:

1. Department of Vegetable Promotion and Development

2. Department of Horticulture Regulation and Development

3. Department of Post-Harvest Horticultural Activities Regulation

4. Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Plants

Vision

To develop a sustainable, standardized, profitable, and commercial horticulture sector aimed at promoting national economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and improving people’s livelihoods.

The Directorate places strong emphasis on increasing horticultural production through research and extension services, reducing post-harvest losses, adding value to products, and improving the marketing of horticultural commodities.

Mission

The Directorate of Horticulture Development is committed to promoting and developing standardized horticulture through increasing production and productivity of horticultural products, supporting farmers and investors, strengthening post-harvest systems, developing floriculture, and improving the marketing of horticultural products in order to contribute effectively and sustainably to the growth of the country’s agricultural economy, employment generation, and improved livelihoods.

# Brief Introduction and Responsibilities

The Directorate of Horticulture Development is one of the sectoral directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock operating under the General Directorate of Agricultural Extension. It works nationwide in the fields of horticulture regulation and development, vegetable promotion and development, floriculture and ornamental plants, and post-harvest horticultural activities.

Over the years, the Directorate has implemented significant activities in the agricultural sector, particularly in horticulture. It has played an important role in extension services and the transfer of improved technologies to orchardists and farmers, especially in the cultivation of improved fruit and vegetable varieties.

The Directorate has successfully implemented the National Horticulture Development Project in both greenhouse and open-field systems, established various commercial orchards using modern drip irrigation and T-trellis systems, constructed sulfur treatment houses, promoted effective utilization of genetic resources, improved soil fertility, enhanced efficient water resource management for cultivated areas, and provided technical advisory services to farmers.

Furthermore, the Directorate has prepared comprehensive national plans for fruits and vegetables and implemented them throughout the country while functioning as a national sectoral authority in horticulture.

Legislative and Policy Documents

* National Horticulture Policy

* National Horticulture Strategy

* Procedure for Establishment and Regulation of Greenhouses

* Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Jujube in Farah Province

* National Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Dates

* National Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Grapes

* Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Almonds in Zabul Province

* National Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Sugar Almonds

* National Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Almonds

* Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Black Raisins in Sar-e-Pul Province

* Production, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing Plan for Dried Plum (Aloo Bukhara) in Ghazni Province

# General Activities

* Preparation of horticultural activities for agricultural complex projects

* Preparation of horticultural activities for agricultural self-sufficiency projects

* Preparation of horticultural activities related to the Qosh Tepa Canal project

* Distribution of 25,000 improved fruit saplings, including grapes, almonds, walnuts, and apricots, donated by the Turkish organization IHH in Kabul, Takhar, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kapisa provinces

* Preparation of financial plans for six agricultural complexes in Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, and Helmand provinces for the establishment of commercial orchards, commercial greenhouses, and processing and packaging centers

* Preparation of concept notes for commercial orchards and greenhouses to attract support from the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Belarus, and Russia

* Preparation of a horticulture guidance manual in Pashto language

* Collection of data on 5,909 zero-energy cold storage facilities for fruits (apple and pomegranate) and vegetables (onion and potato) nationwide

* Collection of data on 4,846 raisin houses and 143 sulfur treatment houses nationwide

* Registration of 23,734 commercial and local vegetable production greenhouses across the country

* Distribution of 1,931 operational licenses for greenhouse product activities nationwide

* Collection of AFN 3,701,385 in revenue from greenhouse activity licenses

* Distribution of 200 flower pots to departments within the Ministry for office decoration

* Propagation of 1,500 cuttings of various flower species

* Provision of technical opinions and consultations on more than 100 commercial business plans related to horticulture

# Capacity Building Activities

* Training and guidance for 52 interns on vegetable cultivation and ornamental plants in the Ministry’s central greenhouses

* Installation of a sprinkler irrigation system in the Ministry’s central greenhouse

* Conducting training programs on fruit tree pruning and ornamental plant improvement for the Office of the Prime Minister to improve garden design and landscaping

* Participation of six employees in leadership skills training programs at the Civil Service Institute

* Sending 11 specialists from the Directorate to participate in in-person training programs in China

# Coordination with Partner Organizations

1. Preparation and submission of three concept notes on capacity building, fruits, and vegetables to the Turkish organization IHH

2. Distribution of 25,000 fruit saplings in four provinces in coordination with IHH Turkey

3. Provision of technical and professional opinions on project documents of organizations operating under the Ministry of Agriculture in all 34 provinces

4. Preparation and submission of a solar dryer concept note to IHH Turkey

5. Preparation and submission of proposals on dates, almonds, and grapes to the Planning Directorate for implementation support from the State of Qatar

6. Preparation of a presentation on sulfur treatment methods for apricot cultivation for orchardists and farmers

Implementation of Development Projects

Development Projects – Year 1402

The National Horticulture Development Project (Code: AFG/390356) with a budget of 19 million AFN was prepared, approved, and successfully implemented in 10 provinces:

  1. Establishment of 90 jeribs of commercial orchards (citrus, dates, plum, grapes, and jujube) in Paktika, Helmand, Farah, Nangarhar, Khost, Ghazni, and Logar.
  2. Construction of 11 sulfur houses for drying apricot (Shakarpara variety) in Uruzgan province.
  3. Establishment of 27 greenhouses for vegetable production in Khost, Logar, Laghman, Helmand, and Kandahar.
  4. Establishment of 5 jeribs of demonstration plots for Motia fragrant flowers in Nangarhar.
  5. Technical and professional training of 203 farmers and extension workers in 10 provinces on pre- and post-harvest operations.
  6. Creation of permanent employment opportunities for 138 farmers directly and 700 indirectly.
  7. Distribution of 127 incentive packages to farmers.

Development Projects – Year 1403

The same project with a budget of 15 million AFN was implemented in 15 provinces:

  1. Establishment of 125 jeribs of commercial orchards (citrus, dates, plum, grapes, and jujube) in Nimroz, Faryab, Kunduz, Baghlan, Nuristan, Khost, Laghman, Ghor, Ghazni, Herat, and Farah.
  2. Construction of 6 sulfur houses for processing and drying apricots in Zabul province.
  3. Construction of 22 greenhouses in Paktika, Jawzjan, and Faryab.
  4. Training of 208 farmers and extension staff on pre- and post-harvest practices and use of greenhouses and sulfur houses.
  5. Establishment of 10 jeribs of Motia flower demonstration plots in Nangarhar.
  6. Creation of permanent employment for 163 farmers directly and 815 indirectly.

Development Projects – Year 1404

The National Horticulture Development Project (Codes: AFG/390356 and AFG/390790) with a total budget of 13.5 million AFN was implemented in 11 provinces:

  1. Establishment of 166 jeribs of commercial orchards (citrus, persimmon, cherry, and almond) in Takhar, Parwan, Kunar, Maidan Wardak, Kapisa, and Samangan.
  2. Construction of 6 sulfur houses for drying apricots in Ghazni and Bamyan.
  3. Establishment of 1 greenhouse for ornamental plant production (200 m²) in Herat.
  4. Construction of 6 vegetable production greenhouses (200 m² each) in Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pul.
  5. Distribution of 480 sprayers (battery-powered and generator-based) to leading greenhouse farmers in Kabul, Farah, Laghman, Khost, Balkh, Ghazni, Herat, Paktia, Nimroz, Daikundi, and Badghis.
  6. Technical training of 95 farmers on pre- and post-harvest practices and use of sulfur houses.
  7. Creation of permanent employment for 95 farmers directly and 475 indirectly.