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Islamic Relief

Irrigation Rehabiliation in Kajaki

Location: Kajaki, Helmand Province
Number of Beneficiaries: Around 12,600 people
Start Year: 2002
Status: Completed
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Project Overview

The aim of the project is to provide farmers in the Kajaki District with an alternative means of generating income as opposed to the existing poppy cultivation which is dominant in the region by the implementation of an irrigation rehabilitation Project.

It is anticipated that this project will support activities such as establishing community groups and providing skills based training, assisting the communities to adopt alternative farming activities.

The project beneficiaries are mainly small farmers of 30 villages in Kajaki district, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. This numbers 1,800 families, totalling around 12,600 individuals.

At present, refugees are returning to the district and they will also benefit from the project.


Project Background

The land holding size in Kajaki is changing rapidly over the last five years as small farmers are forced to surrender their agriculture lands for settling old debts and advances taken mainly for the opium poppy crops.

However, small farmers still constitute significant proportion of the farming community. The farmers cultivate wheat as staple crop, whereas watermelon, pomegranate and cherry are the marketed fruits. Opium poppy is the major cash crop.

Project Objectives

Food security of local communities in Kajaki district will be increased and opium poppy cultivation decreased.

Specific objectives:

  • A sustainable social organisation is in place.

  • The agriculture fields, orchards and vegetables have sufficient irrigation water.

  • Awareness increased among farmers regarding the use of water and alternatives to opium crops through various projects on irrigation models, nurseries, orchards and vegetable plots

Project Activities

  • Establish Agriculture Research Station

  • Repair, Lining and Reconstruction of Karaz
    and Water Channel

  • Formation of Community Organisations

  • Sustainable use of Water Resource Training Course

  • Nurseries in villages

  • Vegetable, Orchards and Irrigation demonstrations in villages

Islamic Relief’s Work

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

  1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
  2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
  3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
  4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
  5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
  6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

  1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  2. Achieve universal primary education
  3. Promote gender equality and empower women
  4. Reduce child mortality
  5. Improve maternal health
  6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
  7. Ensure environmental sustainability
  8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

Islamic Relief