<p>Small-scale plant nurseries make significant contributions to both environmental services and the state economy by generating revenue through the sale of plants, which creates jobs and supports local businesses. The current study was conducted in the Malakand regions plant nurseries to assess their socio-economic performance, production efficiency, and market dynamics to identify limitations and opportunities for sustainable development. Field surveys were carried out, and both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through questionnaires. Gross Margin, Total Revenue, Variable Cost, Stochastic Frontier Analysis, Data Envelopment Analysis, and Analysis of Variance were used to assess the technical efficiency and profitability of the nurseries. A total of 410 plants were documented, and the most available types of plants in all nurseries were ornamental. The efficiency score was higher at 8.375 for nine plant species and lower at 0.01 for five plant species, indicating high and low market demands and accessibilities respectively. Production costs (<i>p</i> = 0.04161), Sigma. Square (σ²) and the intercept (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) show a high degree of significance across nurseries. The findings of the current study showed that plant nurseries create employment and reduce poverty, thereby supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 1 (No Poverty). The main factors limiting the development of nurseries in the research area were a lack of funding and water availability. The government and other organizations like NGOs should provide financial support, along with training, better market access and water accessibility to facilitate plant nurseries for maximum productivity and efficiency.</p>