Plant Organic Fruit Trees with African Farmers

We are pleased to report the great success we've had in planting high quality and productive trees in Tadmamt, thanks to you! A total of 30,000 Walnut trees have been successfully grafted and planted, with an additional 20,000 cherry trees over the past year.  

The walnut trees came from healthy transplants of two varieties of Bulgaria Walnut (Dryanovo and Chyanovo, that inhabit the lands of Tadmamt). The rootstock from the nut trees adapted to the local environmental conditions rapidly, producing high quality nuts and early production. 

This project is based on the fundamental principles of the `National Development Initiative Humans (NHRI) and of the High Atlas Foundation. Planting trees doesn't just mean crop, shade and commodity. It means empowering local stakeholders to care for their land, take control of their livelihood and plan for a better future. Dividing the land terraces, building irrigation systems, nurserys and planting was conducted in partnership and consultation with all concerned citizens. They have taken part in true sustainable development of their land. 

While we've reached our target goal, we plan to continue to rehabilitate and cultivation five to seven terraces, construct the basin of accumulation of water and to install drip irrigation system to preserve water supply. 

There is always more to be done in this incredibly impoverished (both financially and resource-wise) land. With your support, an additional 50,000 walnut trees will be planted in a new extension (see below) giving life to the region in so many ways. 

At this time of year, HAF prepares projects for the upcoming planting season, which will begin when the rainy weather arrives.

GOOD NEWS:

While planting 458,492 trees in 9 years, HAF has been looking into ways to add value to the yield. 

Currently, a team has been busy working out the details of a value-added project for the walnuts and almonds being harvested at several HAF project sites, and HAF has just been awarded one of four Alliance for Global Good’s Innovation fund Prizes, which will enable HAF to obtain organic certification. (Details below)

Now, your contributions will go further than just planting trees. The yield from those trees will create jobs and additional income for community members.

PLEASE CONSIDER making a RECURRING DONATION to this increasingly beneficial project.  

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HAF Seeking Organic Certification:  

As part of a new initiative, HAF has undertaken obtaining organic certification for the walnut and almond crops from High Atlas villages.

In September, HAF led nut specialists and entrepreneurs, a photographer and a technician from Morocco's Ministry of Agriculture on a week-long tour to study the current crops and systems and determine what steps will be necessary in order to obtain certification for these farmers. The expedition is described in detail in this HAF blog: http://www.highatlasfoundation.org/blogs/308-Hafs-harvest-and-organic-certification 

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HAF Wins an Alliance for Global Good's Innovation Fund prize:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Innovation Fund Winners Announced 

Four Nonprofits Selected For Project Funding

Winners use best-in-class combination of nonprofit mission and business models for sustainable social good.

Greensboro, NC – A path to prosperity for the poorest of Morocco's rural farmers through organic certification. … These are the proposals that were selected from nearly 50 applicants to be the [4] inaugural grantees of the Alliance for Global Good's Innovation Fund.     ...

High Atlas Foundation | | Morocco 

• Challenge: How to grow earned income of resident client population, as well as create source of
  sustainable revenue for organizational needs. 
• Solution: Obtain organic certification for residents’ agricultural products and create supply chain that
  eliminates middle man, thereby increasing revenue generated many times over, allowing both organization and target population to benefit.

To learn more about this prize, read HAF's blog post:  http://www.highatlasfoundation.org/blogs/312-haf-innovation-fund-winner-of-the-alliance-for-global-good

Attached please see photos taken during a recent tour of these projects earlier in September.

• Walnut processing photos (PDF)