Sanam, a farmer from Nangarhar’s Khewa district, works on his field at the early stage of wheat growing. ©FAO/Hashem Azizi

The prospect of a plentiful wheat harvest brings hope and respite to Afghan farmers in trying times

Sanam, Abdul Manan and Farhad are three farmers from Nangarhar province in the east of Afghanistan. Like most Afghans, their livelihood depends solely on agriculture and livestock. Their families belong to the half of the country’s population that is facing hunger every day.

Sanam, a 42-year-old farmer from Shega Charikar village of Nangarhar’s Khewa district, is the only breadwinner of a family of 12 members. His family’s income relies entirely on subsistence agriculture. Drought severely affected his harvest last year, adding yet another shock to his family’s already weakened financial condition due to the economic impact of the pandemic and the lack of alternative employment opportunities.

Sanam’s family couldn’t afford certified seed as its prices soared due to the restrictions on export and import throughout the pandemic. To make matters worse, he had pending debts but couldn’t borrow more money from other farmers as the country was facing a severe cash crunch following the political transition. That was his situation by September last year. He was helpless when FAO reached to him thanks to the generous funding of the United States.

As every farmer assisted by FAO, Sanam received 50 kg of locally adapted drought-resistant variety certified wheat seeds, as well as specific technical training on wheat cultivation. “If we hadn’t received this certified seed, poverty and lack of employment would have obliged us to cultivate the local seed,” Sanam said. “We would have been happy to plant the local seed, but we wouldn’t have been very confident about the outcome,” the farmer from Khewa district added while working in his wheat field close to his house.

The certified wheat seed provided by FAO in Nangrahar and across the eastern region is already showing good results through the heading and flowering stages as the wheat turns yellowy. Farmers like Sanam, Abdul Manan and Farhad hope for a plentiful harvest this upcoming wheat season.

Comprehensive support to agriculture

Each household assisted with wheat cultivation support was also provided with 50 kg of urea fertilizer to be applied at a critical time in this cropping season. This wheat assistance package (seeds, fertilizer and training) to vulnerable farmers like Sanam, Abdul Manan and Farhad costs only USD 157, while the cost of the minimum food basket for the same family for that period would amount to USD 1080, making it a cost-effective, strategic and long-lasting humanitarian intervention.

FAO has also provided livestock protection support to vulnerable farmers and herders in Nangarhar and across the country, as well as other emergency support packages, including summer crops, home-gardening, backyard poultry, cash for work and unconditional cash to safeguard rural livelihoods, prevent further food insecurity and avoid displacement.

Technical training

Farhad is from Lal Pur district in Nangarhar province. He has been farming all his life and head a family of a seven in Sarband village. His family fully depends on agriculture with no other source of income except for their land. Having limited technical knowledge, Farhad used to perform traditional cultivation methods, producing low yields. This would add to the already increasing financial instability of the family, which was affecting their food security. Only effective cultivation would help him and his family produce enough crops from the land. Farhad received the same support as Sanam. He particularly appreciates the training. “The first thing I learned was how to prepare the land for cultivation,” he mentioned. “I also learned how to control weeds and diseases in the wheat plants that may reduce yields,” added the farmer from Sarband village.

Hopes for increased harvest

Abdul Manan is a farmer from Shega Charikar village, Khewa district. He is the breadwinner of a family of 13 members. In addition to farming, he raises livestock. His family has no wealth or alternative income.  “We are poor and don’t have any salary or wealth, but I do have 2.5 jeribs of land,” the farmer from Nangarhar province said.

The family has pinned high hopes to this year’s winter wheat harvest. Abdul Manan said that without FAO’s assistance he will have sold his livestock, and their living conditions would have gotten worse.

He is expecting a much better yield this season. The certified seed he received from FAO will help him produce enough staple food for his family for year, and trade the surplus for sale to earn money. “We are satisfied with this seed because it is resistant to diseases. We are happy with the seed so far,” Abdul Manan said.

“I have cultivated 50 kg of certified wheat seed in two jeribs (0.4 hectares) of land and I am expecting to harvest 700 to 840 kg yield per jerib,” the farmer said with a smile on his face. “The results are looking good and I will be able to keep some extra wheat seed for the next season. I will share the surplus with other farmers to increase the certified seed variety.”

Abdul Manan is also selling some dairy products in the local bazaar of Shaga bazaar, located along Jalalabad-Kunar highway, famous for its cheese. These sales together with the surplus of wheat will help him cover his children’s education and healthcare, as well as to feed his livestock.

A total of 1.3 million people are benefitting from the timely assistance to winter wheat cultivation, provided in 30 out Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, which is expected to grow enough staple food for a year for 1.7 million vulnerable Afghans.