November 2009

Under the Community Development Agriculture Program in Paktia, Paktika, Khost, and Southeast Ghazni (CDA-P2K) project, VEGA, through its implementing partner ACDI/VOCA, successfully implemented the Alfalfa Seed Voucher Program in the complex region of central southeast Afghanistan.  

To establish connections and build the capacity of local agricultural retailers, ACDI/VOCA conducted the voucher program through 12 project-established Farm Stores, located throughout the P2K region.  The project distributed 1,000 vouchers to each of the 12 Farm Stores that farmer beneficiaries could exchange for a seven kilogram bag of alfalfa seed to plant one jerib, about half an acre, of land. Dependent upon the area and growing season, each farmer is expected to have a minimum of two cuttings. This will result in 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms of alfalfa per farmer for a total of approximately 24,000 to 36,000 tons of alfalfa to be produced in the first year.