Farmers in Afghanistan have been given “courage and confidence” by newly-established trade unions which provide professional training on tax, business management and customer relations, offer transport solutions, and encourage them to work collectively and across borders to build their livelihoods.

Poor men and women make their living off the land in Kunduz and Takhor. It should be mentioned that these two provinces partially cut off from other parts of the country due to political instability and poor infrastructure. Poor farmers of Kunduz and Takhor have received support from the TAPRI, UNDP project, run by INGO Christian Aid and its Afghan local partner.

Before the trade unions were set up, farmers were forced to sell their products at low prices or exchange them for other goods, and were often deceived by less scrupulous and invariably richer traders. Poorly educated and often inexperienced in such situations, the farmers were unaware of trading laws and fair market prices and were not able to calculate the gains and losses of a deal, meaning many were trading at a loss. Those who complained to the police were unable to provide proper evidence of these fraudulent deals while others simply did not know how to file a complaint with the relevant authorities.

The TAPRI sought to address this situation by setting up trade unions in Amam Sahib of Kunduz province and in Dashti Qala of Takhor province, that provide farmers and farm traders with new skills, teach them how to lobby their rights and gain access to markets, locally and further afield, even across borders.

A professional training package was tailored to the farmers needs providing important information so that farmers could extend their trades. Sessions covered subjects such as taxation, business development, market analysis, customs duty regulations, cross border market and business management, customer relations and etc.

Up to date, in total, 138 farmers and farm traders – including at least 42 women – are now members of the two trade unions. In order to join, farmers had to express their interest with a ‘commitment statement’, be involved in some trade at village level, be an Afghan citizen, and promise to undertake a full course of capacity building workshops on business development.

As part of the TAPRI, three local Afghan traders (representing trade unions) visited Hamadoni district, Tajikistan, in October 2011 to take part in joint roundtable discussions between farmers groups, district government officials and respected jamoats, organized by Christian Aid. Afghan and Tajik farmers delivered short presentations on their objectives, discussing their mutual partnerships with individual farmers as well as with wholesalers. Afghan farmers briefed their Tajik counterparts on seasonal market trends, customer needs and prices. A representative of the Tajik customs authority told farmers about their legal trading rights and the official documents they needed to complete to carry out cross border trade.

“In particular union of Afghan women traders, who have been able to come together and sell their crops in district markets, is giving them a comparative advantage, rather than selling goods alone and having little incomes. United under trade unions, farmers increased their confidence and developed self-esteem to extend their trades”, says Afghanistan Development Association program coordinator Mr. Zalmai Stanikzai. “Farmers are now able to avoid the raw deals of the past and collectively buy agricultural essentials at wholesale prices, saving them money” Stanikzai adds. “Under the trade unions, farmers are well integrated with local and district markets, use business plans, assess and observe market trends.”

The trade unions give the farmers courage to lobby their interests at district level and help them overcome problems of transportation. They also run groups where women gather separately from men to discuss business plans and actively take decisions on customer demand in various seasons. The trade union selection process has ensured some of the most disadvantaged women have been able to enroll.

Haji Saleh Mohammad is a farm trader who previously took care of all his business dealings alone and was not a member of any trade union. In those days, he says, he had a lack of awareness of customs regulations, taxation and law, and the importance of registration.

“When I joined the TAPRI I attended a lot of courses about tax, customs law, and the importance of registration,” he says. “My difficulties have been solved by TAPRI trainings and support.”

Haji Saleh is now head of the Shir Khan Bander Trade Union in Amam Sahib. “Now we do not have any difficulties regarding tax, customs laws and storing of agricultural products,” he adds. “Our trade union members have met with Tajik traders in Afghanistan and Tajikistan and have been able to export their own products and import necessary agriculture products to Afghanistan. The relationship between Afghan and Tajik traders has helped us to improve our economic status.”

Hoji Muhammad Soleh and his business partners export construction materials from Afghanistan to Tajikistan and import flour, steel bars and medicine from Tajikistan.

Through this project, farmers and farm traders have shown how transparent and accountable relationships across borders can create favorable market conditions which allow the poor to generate income and improve their quality of life.

PREPARED WITH ASSISTANCE OF UNDP TAJIKISTAN