Afghanistan is located in southwestern Asia, with Iran to its west and Pakistan to its south and east. The country’s total land area is 652,230 sq km. In comparison, it is slightly larger than France, or about the size of the state of Texas in the U.S. Its climate is arid-semiarid, with cold winters and hot summers. Afghanistan’s terrain is generally inhospitable, with rugged mountains across the majority of the country. However, there are plains in the north and southwest. Of Afghanistan’s total land area, 12 percent is utilized for cultivated crops, while no measurable amount of the total land supports permanent crops such as fruit- and nut-bearing trees. Environmental issues include limited natural fresh water resources, inadequate supplies of potable water, soil degradation, overgrazing, deforestation and desertification. The country’s population is approximately 28 million, with 80 percent of the labor force dedicated to agriculture. Afghanistan is a poor nation due to years of conflict, with 53 percent of its population living in poverty. The country relies heavily on foreign aid, agricultural support and trade with neighboring countries. Licit agricultural products in Afghanistan include wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton and hides. The EurAsia Division is responsible for IFDC activities in Afghanistan.
Recent IFDC Projects in Afghanistan
- Food for Agricultural Revitalization and Market Systems (FARMS) in Afghanistan, 2007-2009
As part of the USDA Food for Progress Program, FARMS provided technical assistance to increase production of key food and oilseed crops. The program focused on developing the wheat market by improving the quality of flour milled from domestic wheat. IFDC linked key members of the wheat value chain including farmers, seed and agri-input suppliers and millers. FARMS also included urea deep placement (UDP) and micro-irrigation programs for rice and vegetables to reduce total agri-inputs needed while increasing crop yields.
DONOR: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL)
