Climate change, drought: A serious threat to Afghan agro sector, raising farmers’ concerns

Source: Pajhwok

Acute drought in parts of Afghanistan has psychologically impacted farmers who face serious economic hardships; with some even forced to leave their areas. They are urging the government and the international community for help.

Experts say the government and the international community must provide necessary assistance to affected farmers, distribute drought-resistant crop seeds, and lift sanctions on Afghanistan so that the Afghan government can access financial resources to address the crisis. The government has also called for assistance in this regard.

The head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Afghanistan considers both short-term and long-term support for affected farmers as essential, saying that the organization is currently focused on providing short-term aid.

Climate change, its impact on Afghanistan

The global climate is changing rapidly, leading to droughts in some regions and severe storms, heavy rainfall, and flooding in others.

Afghanistan, despite contributing only about 0.19% of global greenhouse gas emissions, ranks fourth among countries most affected by climate change, according to reports.

This situation has severely impacted the country’s agricultural sector, which remains the primary source of livelihood for nearly 80% of Afghans. Irregular rainfall and floods caused by climate change have also led to crop failures and reduced yields.

Severe drought, farmers’ concerns

Sakhidad, a resident of Kasi village in Firozkoh, the capital of Ghor province, told Pajhwok Afghan News that while he managed to gain some harvest last year, this year, due to drought, he couldn't even break-even. He said, “This year I cultivated 490 kilograms of wheat, but not even seven grains have sprouted. I cultivated 210 kilograms of barley, but they didn’t sprout either. I also planted potatoes, but the drought burned them in the ground — only weeds remain.”

Due to these problems, he is experiencing mental stress, saying: “I’m constantly thinking and worrying about what to do and how to provide for my children… I’m overwhelmed with concern. I rely on God first and the government second for support.”

He called on the government to provide drought-resistant crop seeds to farmers and, if agricultural assistance is not possible, the government should help them find alternative livelihoods.

Sher Mohammad, a resident of Garmsir district in Helmand, said this year he harvested very less that he couldn't even cover his costs.

“In the past, I used to cultivate up to 10 acres of land, but now I’ve lost hope because the crops no longer yield. We don’t have the infrastructure to store rainwater,” he said. In Helmand, people mainly grow cotton, wheat, watermelon, beans, and potatoes and have various fruit orchards. Sher Mohammad added: “Now there are districts and areas in Helmand where people don’t cultivate anything because there's no water. The more they dig wells, the lower the water drops.” He said: “The decrease in crop yield has deeply affected us. Life has become very hard. We can’t use our land. We’re confused how to get food. Many people are distressed. We’re looking for other work. This has caused psychological issues for us. We’re on medication and are now forced to leave our land and find new jobs.”

Abdul Hai, a resident of Delji area in Musa Qala district of Helmand, has been displaced to Lashkargah city for more than two years due to drought. He said about his displacement: “Since arriving here, I haven’t enjoyed a single day like I did back home. We had four acres of land there. Everything depends on water. Now water levels have dropped to 150 meters, and some people can’t even access drinking water.”

He added: “I was the first to suffer psychological issues. The mental stress comes from not being able to support one’s family. Here in Lashkargah, there comes days when I can’t even earn five afghanis.”

Rohul Amin, a resident of the 26th canal area of Shinwari district in Nangarhar, also complained about drought in his area, saying he can’t even recover the cost of farming.

“Yields have dropped by 40%, and expenses have increased. After covering the costs, we’re left with nothing. Drought has seriously hurt us. Climate change is deeply worrying us,” he said.

According to him, agriculture is their only source of income, and they are facing drought while still needing to meet their household expenses.

Haji Mir Hamza, a resident of Muhammad Omar Kurdu area in the capital of Nimroz province, raised similar concerns: “By God, crops are at a loss. I pay laborers from my own pocket. I pay tractor costs from my own pocket… When we need water, it’s not available.”

He added: “There’s a lot of anxiety due to the drought — I am worried about my neighbors and livestock. If I sell them this year due to drought, I won’t be able to buy them back next year. Without water, there’s no life. Both the farmer and the landowner are worried.”

He urged that water from the Kajaki Dam in Helmand should be released to Nimroz when needed so people can benefit from their fields.

“Drought has affected my mental health, and that of other farmers. When they cultivate and see the canals are dry, they get depressed. Every year there’s loss, and the only hope for farmers is their harvest. If they don’t get it, it seriously affects their mental state,” he added.

All these individuals appealed to the government and international community for help.

“Farmers need psychological support as well”

Dr. Wahdat Alokozai, Head of Curative Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health, told Pajhwok that farmers are more vulnerable than others to the negative effects of climate change.

He said drought causes economic problems for farmers, which lead to anxiety, mental health issues, and eventually physical illnesses.

Dr. Wahdat urged the government to provide mental health and psychosocial support to affected farmers and, if agricultural work is no longer feasible, help them find alternative jobs to improve their livelihood. “Farmers should be given drought-resistant seeds”

Climate change expert Sayed Mohammad Sulaimankhel said the government and aid agencies must help farmers cultivate crops that require less water. He emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant institutions must raise awareness about drought-resistant farming and provide such seeds to farmers.

He added that Afghanistan cannot tackle this issue alone and needs international assistance.

Sulaimankhel called for lifting sanctions on Afghanistan so the government can access funding and implement projects.

FAO: Our focus is on short-term aid to farmers

Richard Trenchard, head of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Afghanistan, in an exclusive interview told Pajhwok that the agency has always responded to climate-related disasters with emergency assistance. “When people and farming systems are affected by floods, droughts, or other climate events, we try to help them — especially in keeping their livestock alive and healthy. If crops are destroyed, we provide them with quality, improved seeds to restart farming,” he said.

Without providing specifics, he said FAO has built water check-dams in some areas, worked to combat locust infestations, and is currently engaged in various projects to assist those affected by climate change, including distributing seeds, animal feed, vaccines, and more.

He stressed the need for both short- and long-term support for farmers affected by climate change.

“Currently, FAO is focusing on short-term support to help mitigate the impacts of sudden climate shocks — like droughts and floods — and to empower farmers so they are not weakened in the future and can better withstand climate threats,” he said.

He added that countries can fight climate change by implementing effective national strategies and policies.

Global support key to combat the effects of climate change

Maulvi Ghulam Mohammad Kazim Shahamat, spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, said drought posed a serious threat to Afghanistan’s farmers and herders, many of whom have been affected. He said, without providing further details, that the ministry has implemented some projects in coordination with international partners to mitigate the effects of drought. These include building check-dams, distributing aid, providing food for

people and animals, and distributing drought-resistant seeds.

He added that the ministry was still working to implement similar projects but emphasized the need for international assistance to fight the effects of climate change.