In 2022, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), with funding from the Government of Japan, launched the Herat Agricultural Value Chain (HAVC) project to help farmers gain better market access and improve agricultural production and post-harvest management.
To achieve this, UNOPS engaged Shatoot Consultants to design and deliver the project’s capacity development and training component, an initiative that aimed to empower 300 farmers and 10 key technical stakeholders in Herat with the skills, knowledge, and practical tools needed to strengthen farm productivity, market competitiveness, and sustainability.
The program focused on key topics including farm marketing, farm growing, farmland use, solar maintenance, and cold storage facility operation, core competencies essential for improving the efficiency and resilience of the local agricultural value chain.
Shatoot’s work created measurable improvements in agricultural knowledge, technical capacity, and operational sustainability within Herat’s farming communities.
- 300 farmers trained in farm marketing, farm growing, and farmland management.
- 12 key stakeholders trained in solar system maintenance and cold storage facility operation.
- 95% of participants demonstrated clear knowledge improvement through class discussions and verbal evaluations.
- 100% completion rate, with all participants successfully completing their training ahead of schedule.
- Practical exposure through on-site visits to UNOPS-built solar-powered cold storage facilities.
The program introduced modern marketing and cultivation techniques, taught efficient land and resource use, and strengthened the ability of farmers to preserve produce and reduce post-harvest losses. The training for key stakeholders established a local cadre of technicians capable of maintaining the newly constructed cold storage and solar systems, ensuring that project infrastructure continues to serve communities sustainably.
By emphasizing interactive, hands-on learning, Shatoot ensured that even participants with limited literacy could engage, learn, and apply the lessons in their fields and communities.
- Knowledge in Action
The impact of the training was visible immediately. Farmers learned to calculate seed rates, plan crop cycles, and apply improved soil management and fertilizer techniques. The sessions on farm marketing, a new concept for many, helped farmers understand product pricing, packaging, and customer engagement, preparing them to sell more effectively in competitive markets.
