Afghanistan’s economy is fragile and aid dependent. The private sector is extremely narrow, with employment concentrated in low-productivity agriculture. The UNDP estimates that 71% of Afghans live in rural areas, with nearly 90% of this population generating the majority of their household income from agriculture-related activities.

The decades of conflict have held back development of the agriculture sector. The region is semi-arid and highly dependent on irrigation and water availability and most production of crops and livestock are utilized for self-consumption.

Droughts, floods and changing rainfall patterns have aggravated the situation even more, affecting especially smallholder farmers and widespread poverty across the country.

Agriculture is crucial for food security in Afghanistan and can drive down poverty. We take a multi-faceted approach addressing sustainable land and water management while strengthening the capacities of communities to respond to climate change.