The project aims to enhance farm income and livelihood opportunities in district Swat, Pakistan, through the introduction of high value crops, particularly medicinal plants. With a focus on community mobilization and capacity-building, the initiative involves training local farmers, establishing demonstration plots, and developing marketing channels, thereby encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. An extension of the project is recommended to further support economic growth and alleviate poverty in the region.

1. Maximizing farm income and other livelihood
opportunities through introduction of high Value
Minor Crops in district Swat, Pakistan
Dr. Hassan Sher
University of Swat
Interim Report (July 2012 to December 2012)

2. INTRODUCTION
 Has the representation of different agro-ecological units (Favorable Climate
Exist)– These have binding forces for the economy of Pakistan.
 About 90% of the people depend on agricultural and forest products for their
livelihood, employ more number of human resources than any other profession
in district Swat. NR contribution is 35% in GDP of Pakistan.
 Traditionally the area has agro-pastoral based economy. (For the first time, this
project will aim to diversify the economy by value addition and providing
alternate means of livelihood through farm maximization. This will further
contribute to sustainability of livelihood)
 Significant number (50000 families) of the population engaged in the trade of
HVCs including MAPs from the wild. They collect 5000 tons of different MAPs
and exporting these to national and international markets.

3.  Medicinal plants collectors include womenfolk
(48.26%), men folk (27.0%) and children
(24.74%)
 Pakistan as a whole export MAPs of 10.45 million US $
Contribution of District Swat 70 %
 Pakistan Import HVC-MAPs of 135Million US$--Import its own
exported plants materials.
 Pakistan has about 50,000 registered
practitioners of traditional medicines known as
tibb-e-unani and majority of the population,
especially in district Swat, is getting health care
by tabbibs.
 60% of the population used herbal medicines
prescribed by traditional practitioners

4. OBJECTIVE
Evaluate opportunities to maximize farm income
through introduction of high value minor crops
including medicinal plants in the war-stricken
district Swat of Pakistan, directly supporting new
Framework for Economic Growth.
HYPOTHESIS
Establishment of ex-situ experimental production
plots will lead to the development of skills in
horticultural production and marketing among
people in the valley and help rebuild commercial
connections between this region and the rest of
Pakistan.

5. Location of project sites on the Map

6. Overview of Implementation Process and
Progress Update.
 The project is implemented by University of Swat, covering a range of
interventions:
 local awareness campaigns, capacity-building training and community
mobilization and Formation of MAPs Producer Associations.
 3 demo- plots of the selected high value minor crops including MAPs with
farmers in three villages viz: Khwazakhela, Miandam and Behrain were
established.
 In these villages three Village Development Committees were formed.
 Economic analysis/feasibility and evaluation of the adoption by farmers of
improved agricultural practices will be assessed in May,2013.
 Developing reliable marketing channels. Which represent the prime
„engines of growth‟ for the local economy. These strategic economic
development areas are entirely based upon, and closely interlinked, with
the management and conservation practices of HVCs including MAPs, and
intact landscapes.


7. Social/Community mobilization
The project activities were initiated in July, 2012 and consultative meetings
were held involving all sectors of the community including forest owners and
non-owners, MAPs collectors, farmers and representative of Govt:
departments.
Community/social mobilization began in selected three villages and
accordingly 3 Village Development Committees (VDCs) i.e one per village
were formed for sustainable use of MAPs and introduction of other HVCs. The
VDCs representatives participate on behalf of their respective
villages/communities and identify participants for trainings, exposure visits
and other activities of the project.
The project signed MoUs with 3 VDCs for the sustainable harvesting of MP‟s
from the wild and establishment of demo-plots.
Establishment of Three Demonstration Plots
Three demo-plots were established in the project areas
representing 3 different agro-climatic zones.
Three MoUs have been signed between University of Swat and VDCs in the
last week of September, 2012, according to which the community cultivate
19 commercially important HVCs including MAP‟s on their farms on an areas
of 100x72 Sq.ft .


8.  During the establishment of the demo-plots, 30 community
activists were trained regarding nursery layout, transplanting and
cultivation of HVCs and MAPs.
 The community has taken keen interest and requested the project
to provide them technical support and training regarding nursery
raising.
 Some members of the community have shown interest on the
cultivation of some HVCs on commercial scale– if these are
economically profitable.
 It will revolutionized agri-farming, where farmer communities are
unaware of HVCs, and had been earning nominal returns from traditional
agricultural crops.
 Have great impact in term of diversification of existing production
activities of farmer communities and will substantially enhance farmer
incomes, employment generation and poverty reduction in the target
areas.
 Although it is not feasible in view of the short duration of the project, The
project, therefore, recommend one year extension in the project duration
with increase funding to this activity and allied component of the project.

9. Economic Analysis and Risk Analysis
 Suitability, yield and economic analysis/ feasibility of selected
HVCs will be worked out in collaboration with Agricultural
Economist.
 Economic analysis will be carried out in the month of April and
May, 2013 i.e after harvesting the crops.
 The following procedure will be used for economic analysis.
 B/C RATIO
 Type of data collected will be analyzed with the help of a
formula:
 B/C ratio= Total income on their selling – Total expenditure on
their cultivation.

10.  Data will be analyzed by using ANOVA and by MSTAT-C
program. Means will be compared using Least Significant
Difference (LSD) test at 5 % probability level (Steel and
Torrie, 1980; Sher et al,2010).
 Economic analyses of yield data will be carried out to
determine the net income for each HVCs, using prevailing
market rates for land rent, costs of production and prices of
crops. The most widely cultivated crops, wheat and maize
among cereals and radish, peas and turnip among cash
crops, will be included for comparison.
 Risk analysis will also be worked
out(May-2013)

14.  Plot of Nigella Sativa (Kulwanji)

15. Production of Agriculture Foods
Increase of
Increase of Water
Agriculture lands
Productivity
Productivity
Selection of high Productivity crops
steady to stress and Climate change

16. Marketing Support Linkages and Partnership
Development
The project explored easy and reliable marketing channels for future
self management and independency. In this connection, partnership
and links of the 3 VDCs with relevant line departments like
Agriculture and Forest Departments were developed.
Secondly, these 3 VDCs were linked with “Qarshi” Industry and an
MOUs under the umbrella of University of Swat was succeeded
between VDCs and Qarshi” Industry.
Under the MOU Qarshi Industry is bound to purchase sustainably
harvested MAPs from the wild and cultivated filed.
The quality of collected HVCs and MAPs, if encouraging will pay 30%
higher rate than market prices.
Qarshi industry also announced further 15% increase as
conservation price for the sustainably harvested MAPs from the wild.

17.  One of the major constraint in MAPs and some HVCs is the non
availability of assured market.
 My this endeavor has ensured surety of the market for HVCs and
MAPs and it has also enhanced bargaining power of the farmers
community to negotiate the prices of their products.
 Exposure Visit
 Two exposure visits were planned 1) Qarshi Industry, 2) Akbari
Mandi Lahore.
 Visit to Qarshi Industry was organized and total number of 30
individuals from 3 villages participated this exposure visits.
 It was important that participants understood pre and post-
harvest treatment and processing techniques.
 The second visit to Akbari Mandi Lahore will be made in the month
of February, 2013.

18. Exposure Visit,
Capacity
building/training,
Marketing Support
Linkages and
Partnership
Development

19.  Establishment of Community Managed
“MAP Collection and Buying Center
 Community managed “MAP Collection and Buying Center”(Purchase Depo)
at Miandam.
 MAP collectors transports the MAP products collected to this center and
the bulking, packaging and labeling is carried out to facilitate buyers
coming to this center for bulk purchases.
 Sales income is then distributed among MAP collectors in accordance with
laid down procedures based on products and weight provided to the
collection center.
 The farmers have realized credible returns and some have reported an
average increase of 3 times in their revenue generated from the sale of
few high value MAP species after switching their business to this center.
 Miandam become the hubs of significant economic activities with multi-
dimensional impact on the economic development of the local areas.
 However, certification and registration of the products is needed.
Therefore, the project needs extension of one year with increase of
funding for this activity.

20. Capacity building/training
 Initially the farmers are poorly organized, untrained in agriculture
practices of HVCs and not aware pre-post-harvest treatment of plant
materials.
 Have little knowledge of the market and have poor negotiation power for
fixing the prices for their plant materials.

 Three capacity building training workshops each one per village for a total
of 150 local commercial collectors and farmers (50 from each village).
Subject covered include cultivation, transplantation, collection, drying,
packing and marketing. The trained community members further extend
the knowledge to fellow farmers in the area.
 The capacity building training workshop produces skill farmers in the
area.
 These capacity building training programs reduces the expertise gap and
also raise employment opportunity to the professional trained farmers and
MAPs collectors.

21.  Kitchen Gardening
 Concept of kitchen gardening is poorly developed in the area.
 Seeds of different vegetables were distributed among some members of
the farmers community in three villages.
 This activity not only ensure the supply of fresh vegetable but also ensure
the saving of money especially at women level
 Composting
 Farmers currently using „fresh manure‟ to their agri- fields. Unawareness
regarding the value of farm manure.
 In this context, the project has imparted one day capacity building training
workshop to 30 farmers of the three villages regarding the importance and
preparation composting.
 The response from community side was encouraging and it will not only
ensure sustainable agriculture and organic farming but will also reduce
expenses made on the excessive and unscientific use of synthetic
fertilizers like Urea and DAP.


22.  Impact of The project
 The present project has great socio-economic impact on the area
and the following social and economic impacts were analyzed
since the implementation of the project.
 Community mobilization process of the current project provided
opportunity for developing relationship & networking among stake
holders.
 Building social capital in the area. Which eventually contributing
in positive attitudinal change in terms of tolerance & tranquility
among socio-economic & ethnical groups for the achievement of
mutually beneficial goals.
 These individuals will further contribute in building livelihood
assets through various projects in future.



23.  Economic impact of the present project can best be
assessed by examining changes in incomes and poverty in
the communities and by calculating rates of return for
investments made by the farmers communities on
cultivation. But to do this requires extensive data collected
over long periods of time.
 Capacity building training on pre- post-harvest treatment of
MAPs and training best horticulture practices of HVCs and
cooperative sale of MAPs provided an income opportunity at
the door step of the families. These activities will contribute
in improved production of HVCs. Moreover, This
intervention is being carried out mostly by low income and
poor people at various locations of the 3-villages. This
intervention has good effect on the poor people in terms of
its nutrition (food security) and economic value.
 Detail impact of the present project required
comprehensive data and will be analysed by the end of the
project

24. Name of HVCs including MAPs Recommended for Cultivation by Farmers in
District Swat.
Trachyspermum ammi Morchella esculenta
Bunium persicum [=Carumcopticum]
Colchicum luteum Gladiolus Morchella conica
Valeriana jatamansii Linum usitatissimum Bergenia ciliata
Podophyllum Nigella sativa
Aconitum leave
hexandrum
Bistorta amplexicaule Crocus sativus A.violaceum
Paeonia emodi
Viola serpens Plantage ovata/major
Berberis lyceum Commiphora mukul
Atropaa ccumonicata/
belladonna

25. Revised Project Budget for One Year Extension (i.e 1st July 2013-June, 2014):
Items Unit Qty Rate/Unit Total
A Capital cost:
A.1 Training equipment LS 20000 20000
Sub Total A 20000
B Operational cost
B.2 Utilities
Month 12 4000 48000
B.3 Fuel for Vehicle
Month 12 15000 180000
Sub Total B 228000
C Programme Cost
C.1 Formation of 03 VOs (male) No 3 20000 60000
C.2 Formation of WO (Female) No 1 15000 15000
C.6 Awareness campaigns No 2 75000 75000
C.7 Training extension workers 02 days training
Head 30 6000 180000
30 participants
C.8 Demo. Plots(medical, aromatic plants. (one
No 3 25000 75000
Plot per site)
C.9 Small scale processing unit for finishing
No 1 400000 400000
products
C.11 Publication of Broucher/articles No 2000 100 140000
Sub Total C 850000
D Salary of PI and Research Assistant
16000/PM
(PI-
02 12 months 10000/PM 192000
and RA
6000/PM)
Sub Total D 192000
E Consumable stores
E.3 Seeds/germplasm LS 1 NA NA
E.9 Other Misc. Expenditure LS 1 20000 20000
Sub Total E 20000
Gran Total
13,10,000

26. Way Forward
The way forward of the present project showed that the most
promising opportunities for the development of MAPs for rural
poverty reduction lie in the following:
 Maximizing farm income through introduction of HVCs
including MAPs for rural economy development need
concerted effort and time. Based on the experience of this
project, it is recommended that at least one year extension
with increase budget as per the revised project budget and
work plan till June, 2014 should be given for the successful
completion of this project.
 Till December,2012 the project has mainly focused on
capacity-building training on various horticultural aspect of
MAPs, i.e. basic skills in processing, market exposure and
market linkages and awareness-raising on natural resource
conservation in selected villages.


27. Emerging trends indicate the importance of MAPs cultivation.
However, the general practice is high dependence on harvest
from the wild. Therefore, Ex-situ Cultivation of high value
MAPs must be encouraged and it will not only provide an
additional source of income for villagers, but will also
contribute to mitigating pressure on endangered resources.
Moreover, as opposed to collection from the natural habitat,
production of MAPs through cultivation ensures determining
sustained annual yields. This facilitates long-term agreements
between producers and buyers, particularly the herbal
industries.
Value chain analysis will be made to improve growth and
competitiveness of the products develops from MAPS. This
project will facilitate local entrepreneurs, farmer/producer
groups and cooperatives to identify the enterprise options.
Cooperatives and other micro-enterprise will add value on
these natural products and market the value added products
in more efficient and responsible ways.

28. The trade of MAPs involves a complex group of stakeholders.
The distribution of benefits in the MAPs trade is inequitable.
The trade of MAPs is informal, uncoordinated and mostly
unregulated. Secondly, the gap between production and
supply is widening exerting additional pressure on the
resource to meet the market demand. Therefore, market
assessment studies on supply and demand of MAPs are
necessary. These studies must be designed to study the
product flow from the source to the end market analysis.
The important way forward is that HVCs provided catalyst for
initiating economic development for poverty alleviation,
enhancing food security and stimulating growth in the area. It
enhances the possibility to establish an integrated production
system using a minimum of chemical inputs and using local
inputs, such as manure, compost and mulch.

32. Thank
YOU
hassan.botany@gmail.com
hassansher_2000@yahoo.com