This publication of AGRO-Climatic ATLAS OF SAR E PUL Province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the research behind it would not have been possible without the exceptional support of the great joint efforts of many institu - tions and individuals working in close partnership.

This Atlas presents the first-ever comprehensive and reliable assessment of Sarpul province in terms of Climatic indicators. It is a key output from the ambitious three year program, Strengthening Afghanistan Institutions capacity for the Assessment of Agriculture Production and Scenarios Development, developed and implemented by Ministry of Agricultural, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and financial support from the European Commission (EC). The program developed an innovative, reliable and cost-effective methodology in order to examine the climate conditions Nangarhar required to improve and sustain agriculture.

This Atlas is developed under the significant leadership, guidance, support and oversight of Mr. Rajendra Aryal in his current role as FAO Representative/Coun - try Director, is highly appreciated.

The collaboration and cooperation of FAO and MAIL for analysis and implemen - tation of Agro-Climatic indicators for Sarpul province containing data collec - tion, verification, database development, scenario analysis, soil, crop and climate results classification are greatly acknowledged. It is the culmination of three years of intense and positive cooperation, technical guidance, formal and informal peer review, local knowledge between many partners and individuals, which are gratefully acknowledged, as follows:

Dr. Anwar Ul Haq (Minister of MAIL), Hashmatullah Ghafoori (Deputy Min - ister for Irrigation and Natural Resources, MAIL), Sher Shah Amiri (Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, MAIL), Shakib Sharifi (Director General Planning and Program, MAIL), Zahiruddin Imampoor (Director of Statistics and MIS, MAIL), Mohammad Aqa (Assistant FAO Representative, Afghanistan), Moeen-Uddin Siraj (National operation officer, FAO Afghanistan), , Muhammad Ishaq Safi (National Project Manager – FAO, Afghanistan), Inayatullah Mangal (National Administrative & Finance Assistant), Wajia Sediqi (Communica - tion and Knowledge Management Assistant, FAO Afghanistan), Rabia Nemati (GIS/RS Assistant, FAO Afghanistan), Sayed Omar Dost (National Geospatial & E-learning Associate, FAO Afghanistan) and Ahmad Shoaib Azizi (National Agriculture Monitoring & Statistics Associate, FAO Afghanistan).

We acknowledge the keen interest and support provided by Douglas Muchoney (Project Lead Technical Officer, FAO-CBDS). The enthusiastic guidance, ideas, team management and implementation support provided by Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Safi (National Project Manager, FAO - Afghanistan) and graphic design developed by Wajia Sediqi and Ahmad Shoaib Azizi is highly appreciated. In addition, we also thank the technical interactions and inputs of all colleagues in FAO Operations, Programme and Administration Department and many other individuals and government agencies (MAIL, MEW, NSIA, AMD, ARAZI and NEPA) at all administrative levels of Afghanistan.