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Published Date: May 20, 2016
Recovering from war and living in hope: Fruit and vegetable markets in Pakistan’s Swat Valley (SLRC Publication)
Abid Suleri, Babar Shahbaz and Qasim Shah
Summary:
Pakistan’s Swat valley is the centre of fruit and vegetable production in Kyhber Pakhtunkhwa province. Between 2007 and 2009 the markets’ activity was severely compromised by Taliban militancy and the army action against them; a third of agricultural workers lost their livelihood source. This paper analyses how conflict disrupted the market for fruit and vegetables and how it is seeking to recover. It examines changes in the agricultural supply chain, shifts in crops and occupation, the availability of inputs from government and aid actors, new entrants and leavers to the market, and the advance of external competitors. A number of strategies for post-conflict rehabilitation are identified.
Pakistan’s Swat valley is the centre of fruit and vegetable production in Kyhber Pakhtunkhwa province. Between 2007 and 2009 the markets’ activity was severely compromised by Taliban militancy and the army action against them; a third of agricultural workers lost their livelihood source. This paper analyses how conflict disrupted the market for fruit and vegetables and how it is seeking to recover. It examines changes in the agricultural supply chain, shifts in crops and occupation, the availability of inputs from government and aid actors, new entrants and leavers to the market, and the advance of external competitors. A number of strategies for post-conflict rehabilitation are identified.