Green Fields Farm and Nursery
The Challenge
While Kazakhstan is the size of western Europe and has the biggest economy in Central Asia, including vast hydrocarbon and mineral reserves which remain the backbone of the economy, it struggles to spread that wealth to the common people of Kazakhstan. An average person makes less than $600 a month. This has led to some unrest in the country over corruption, tax laws, and foreign investment (State.gov).
And while the proportion of people living below the poverty line has remained relatively stable, the gap between poverty levels in urban and rural areas remains, with the poverty level in rural areas being 2.7 times higher than that in urban areas. All of this equals high unemployment rates, low income, lots of underutilized land and poor farming techniques, alcoholism and related domestic violence, lack of things for families and individuals to do that make life meaningful, and dysfunctional families. While the youth are often satisfied with how they have fun and relax, “the more mature young people are concerned with the purchase of housing, lack of leisure activities in villages, and the need to improve health.”
“They would really like a place to chat and drink coffee together, a place that exists in the urban area but not in the rural areas.”
A Solution
Green Fields Farm and Nursery wants to target as many of those issues as possible from the ground level. While securing land might be the first big hurdle, it will provide substantial and sustainable infrastructure to provide decent work for those in rural areas. It will provide lasting work for several people and seasonal work for more directly on the farm by growing and selling fruits and vegetables.
By also selling fruit saplings, they can empower Kazakhs to grow their own and sell the produce. Securing a building as a community center will allow them to host skill training events as well as provide a safe place for healthy extracurricular activities for all ages of the community, and “a place to chat and drink coffee together”.
Business Activities Geared Towards Providing Decent Work and Economic Growth While Efficiently Using Natural Resources and Production:
Target: Promote full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.(Adapted from Target 8.5)
Target: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being. (Adapted from 9.1)
Target: Promote the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources (Adapted from 12.2)
Measured by:
Number of seasonal workers employed each quarter.
How much money flowed to this area that would not otherwise without the business for economic growth by listing quarterly expenses (including salaries but not own salaries).
Level of phase: Phase 1 - Infrastructure & Land Procurement, Phase 2 - Nursery Structure, Phase 3 - Community Center Development
Area of land purchased/rented by the organization during each quarter.
What progress has been made on preparing and procuring land.
What investigating or trialing of new crops, beyond fruit saplings, occurred each quarter.
Number of saplings being cultivated each quarter.
Number of saplings sold each quarter.
Number of full-time employees earning a local living wage or higher each quarter.
Number of part-time employees this quarter earning a local living wage or higher each quarter.
Number of individuals who used the community center each quarter.
Number of individuals who took classes at the community center each quarter.
Green Fields Farm & Nursery is a tree nursery in Kazakhstan that produces soft fruit saplings for regional orchardists and individuals who wish to purchase fruit trees. In addition to fruit, their farm is working towards producing asparagus, hardy kiwis, and grapes. They are seeking to grow their nursery efforts through procuring land and building a community center on the property where they will host community events around planting and harvest at their location. The center will provide a space for gathering, regular healthy extracurricular activities for all ages, and personal development to empower people with hard skills and resources.
What does your donation go towards?
Purchasing land
Preparing land, installing a well, and irrigation system
Buying rootstock
Paying seasonal workers
Building an initial building for on-site security and storage for tools, etc.
Purchase of a tractor and farming implements