Announcement

Affordable Seeds and Fertilizer Reduce Afghanistan’s Food Crisis

Over 250,000 farmers benefit from high-quality agricultural supplies.

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Sunday, March 15, 2009

Photo: USAID/AVIPA

Haji Kamal received high-quality seeds to increase his crop yield.

More than six million Afghans do not have enough to eat, partially due to drought.   USAID, in partnership with the Afghan government and the private sector, is combating Afghanistan’s food insecurity crisis by providing high-quality, subsidized wheat seeds and fertilizer to farmers in 14 northern and western provinces.  As an alternative to direct food handouts, access to affordable agricultural supplies strengthens families, communities, and food economies by promoting local production, community decision-making, and farmer-supplier relationships.

Farmers are chosen according to need by teams of Afghan stakeholders at the local, provincial, and national levels.  More than 10,000 farmers in Bamyan received seeds and fertilizer in February, and distributions in 13 other provinces have benefitted more than 241,000 farmers to date.  With an average farmer household of 6 individuals, the program has improved the lives of nearly 1.5 million Afghans over the past four months. 

Haji Kamal of Sari Pul is one of the drought-affected farmers that USAID has helped.   "I have a shortage of seeds," Kamal says.  "Our harvest has not paid off for two or three years, and we had to sell livestock to earn enough to eat.  If I have good seeds, I can feed my family, and earn enough to live."