Tahmina Ghaffer began Moonflowers in 2020 as a homage to Afghanistan. Moonflowers is a premium saffron firm. Her model was impressed by Center Jap poetry, structure, and her ancestors; her mission is to carry dignified work to ladies in Afghanistan. She works solely with ladies within the Herat province of Afghanistan to reap this delicate crop; for only one pound of saffron, over 50,000 flowers are harvested.
I not too long ago spoke to Ghaffer, a refugee herself, about the way forward for her firm in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Right here is the complete interview.
Tahmina, what was the inspiration for beginning Moonflowers?
The inspiration behind Moonflowers is empowering ladies in Afghanistan. The saffron trade has been rising and Afghanistan has been producing premium high quality saffron. The workforce behind this stunning spice are Afghan ladies who handpick the saffron flowers throughout harvest season in October/November. Most ladies in rural areas haven’t any entry to the labor market and with the ability to work and earn their very own revenue is significant empowerment. Because the trade was rising, the roles had been growing as properly. There was extra want for jobs in high quality management, saffron seasonal laborers employment companies, and there’s even a feminine saffron ladies growers affiliation.
Saffron has been a nationwide motion, uniting farmers in assist of rising saffron versus rising poppy [harvested for opium]. Poppy was a way of survival— farmers are proud to develop saffron, the spice of life, which additionally occurs to be as profitable.
Moonflower founder and CEO Tahmina Ghaffer shares, “Harvesting saffron is a fragile and labor … [+]
Moonflowers
Inform me extra about your background.
My household determined to go away Afghanistan once I was 5, simply earlier than the civil struggle within the 90s. We grew to become refugees and settled within the Netherlands, the place I grew up and accomplished my diploma in Worldwide Legislation. My motivation has at all times been giving again to individuals in want and contributing to justice. In the end, this has led me to this journey to start out a saffron enterprise. I wished to be a part of the saffron motion in Afghanistan, and thru that, contribute to empowering ladies in Afghanistan. Afghan ladies have been via so much, we’re very resilient and I feel it’s essential to make clear that by providing this premium high quality spice that not solely flavors meals however has well being advantages as properly.
Harvesting of saffron is a fragile course of and farmers favor ladies to reap it. Most farmers now aren’t certain whether or not they may permit ladies to work on the sphere in any respect.
What hole did you see available in the market, and the way is Moonflowers completely different?
The hole available in the market lies within the story of the ladies behind the saffron spice, the well being advantages of saffron, training on what makes premium saffron, and sharing this with a broad viewers. Harvesting saffron is a fragile and labor intensive course of; it takes between 50,000 to 70,000 saffron flowers to provide one pound of the spice. The premium high quality saffron from Afghanistan is new to the market, although it has been used for hundreds of years as a culinary herb and is understood for its calmative, antidepressant and anti inflammatory properties.
Inform me about your provide chain and the ladies you’re employed with.
We work with two companion farms within the Herat province of Afghanistan. I’m in contact with one of many ladies representing her household in promoting the saffron and she or he has made it right here. She’s shared that nobody is aware of if the ladies are allowed to return to work throughout harvest season. Folks generally are very afraid of repercussions by the Taliban and my sources inform me that girls had been informed to not go to work on the fields to reap saffron. With that mentioned, there are actually a whole lot of logistical points with getting saffron out of Afghanistan. Folks had been longing for these rising industries, myself very a lot included, because it created so many roles and prosperity.
How are you doing, and the way is your loved ones throughout this troublesome time in Afghanistan?
These previous few weeks have been very troublesome for me. I used to be reliving my very own childhood trauma of changing into a refugee. The pictures of individuals making an attempt to evacuate on the Kabul airport had been devastating and we actually really feel the ache and concern of individuals. Each time I discuss to my relations in Kabul and within the Netherlands, everybody retains telling me how they really feel heartbroken. And that’s what it’s: collective heartbreak. The sensation that you’re from this homeland that is aware of no peace and justice may be very painful. Most of my direct household had left in the course of the 80s and 90s, although as Afghan households are normally very massive, we nonetheless have many relations who’re caught in Kabul. I maintain listening to from my cousins how scared they’re. A lot of the ladies had been crying as a result of they had been afraid to be taken away by the Taliban.
We’re hopeful that individuals will unite with the Nationwide Resistance Entrance, stand for a simply Afghanistan, and resist the oppression by the Taliban. Throughout the civil struggle within the 90s, most of my era left the nation as youngsters. We are actually older and won’t stand by and do nothing.
We are going to at all times be hopeful and actively make efforts for a greater future for Afghanistan, a greater future for the youngsters and ladies of Afghanistan.
Saffron is the central ingredient in dishes like Persian tahdig and Spanish paella. It was once … [+]
Moonflowers
Will your online business mannequin shift, given the current occasions in Afghanistan?
I’ve saffron provides that can final till Spring 2022 and I’m in contact with my suppliers to see how we are able to import extra Afghan saffron. The longer term may be very unclear for everybody at this level. We have no idea what the longer term holds notably for girls and ladies in Afghanistan. Our purpose is that Moonflowers continues to supply a approach to uplift and empower Afghan ladies.
The current occasions make it more difficult, but it surely’s one we’ll gladly tackle.
What’s your hope for your online business transferring ahead?
My hope is freedom, justice and democracy for all of the individuals of Afghanistan. We deserve higher than this.
Twenty years of progress have been taken away by the Taliban proper now, however we’ll proceed to seek out methods to supply premium high quality saffron from Afghanistan. Individuals are resilient and can discover methods to get it out.
How can readers assist the ladies of Afghanistan?
For proper now one of the simplest ways to assist is to donate to organizations that assist refugees with resettlement. Among the organizations that now we have been supporting are International Rescue Committee (IRC), Women for Afghan Women, and now we have been donating meals (our restaurant Sheesh Grill) to Afghan refugees who arrived on the Dulles Worldwide Airport via World Central Kitchen. You may comply with us at @moonflowers_co and take a look at our website for sources to assist Afghan refugees. We’ve additionally added a direct donation choice to our store web page on www.Moonflowers.co to immediate prospects to make an affect via a vetted group. 100% of these donations will likely be going to the Worldwide Rescue Committee, whose mission is devoted to serving to displaced individuals discover their footing after going through these unimaginable circumstances.
