The
idea of orchard development in Palas was introduced by Himalayan
Jungle Project (HJP) in 1995. At that time I was the local consultant
of HJP, however, the local people were reluctant to establish
orchards. The HJP used to call jirga (Mass meetings) of the
farmers at village level, to convince them for the establishment
of orchards for high economic yield by sharing with them the
success stories of orchard owners in Swat that how they became
economically prosperous due to development of orchards on their
land. However, HJP could hardly found a single interested farmer
having a wish to establish an orchard. As a matter of fact,
I am witness to several cases that a farmer showed his willingness
in the jirga but refused planting afterward with an argument
that the Government may snatch his land by the name of orchards
establishment.
The Orchards established in the HJP period have now started
producing fruits. Resultantly, the communities have witnessed
the outputs of the orchards and they are now fully mobilized
for the establishment of Orchards on their land. This year there
were more interested farmers in each village and have sent their
requests through resolutions from the concerned Community based
organizations, to be facilitated by PCDP, for establishment
of orchards. Keeping in view the growing interest of the community
and scarcity of resources with the project, in some villages
we used to toss among the interested farmers for establishing
an Orchard.
Interestingly, Community Based Organizations
of Kunsher and Karoser have sent the resolutions that they
would pay 50% of the payment for getting the plants. Therefore,
in Kunsher, maximum numbers of orchards (5 orchards) were
planted as compared to other CBOs and the amounts paid by
the CBOs were deposited in their Village Conservation Fund
for strengthening capacity towards conservation.
The time has gone when we were requesting farmers for establishment
of Orchards in the HJP period and now they are requesting
to PCDP to help them in establishment of orchard on their
land. This is all due to the efforts of HJP and the conducive
Policies of the PCDP and commitment of PCDP Staff.
Fazal Ahad
Programme Officer
ALR
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