ICRC: Empowering Afghanistan’s farming communities to revive rural livelihoods

By the ICRC

(This story appeared first on the ICRC website last month. It has been edited here for length.)

Afghanistan has endured four decades of armed conflict and is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and the negative effects of climate change. This has created massive economic challenges and severely impacted the country’s agricultural sector, which remains the primary means of livelihood for nearly 80 per cent of Afghans.

Agricultural livelihoods have been one of the biggest casualties of extreme climate events, such as droughts, unseasonal rainfall and floods, leading to crop failures, reduced yield and worsening food insecurity for over 14 million people, according to the Integrated Food Security Classification.

The ICRC has been helping Afghan farmers recover by implementing several targeted initiatives.

“Farmers and communities reliant on agriculture are confronted with a dire situation, with challenges threatening to exacerbate the already precarious food insecurity in the country,” said Katharina Ritz, head of the ICRC’s delegation in Kabul.

“Each farmer grapples with significant hardships and these struggles can reverberate throughout entire communities, leading to dramatic consequences. Agricultural viability and community well-being are closely interconnected, and this underscores the urgency of addressing these issues to prevent further deterioration of the food-security crisis,” she added.

Financial support

In 2024, the ICRC provided cash grants to over 50,000 Afghan farmers to buy essential supplies such as seeds, fertilizer and tools to improve productivity. In Shutul district, around 700 farmers benefited from this initiative.

Farmer Habibullah, who lives in Dehbala district of Nangarhar province with his family of 14, explained: “My family and I depend on the produce of this land and our income is around [0.75 euros] on average a day. The farmlands in our village have been damaged by the years of war and now the land doesn’t yield as much as it used to before.

“With the ICRC’s help, I bought seed and fixed the land which was cratered everywhere because of many bombs.”

With additional economic hardships such lack of employment opportunities and difficult access to markets, many farmers struggled to prepare their land for cultivation. Following the support from the ICRC, these communities now have the resources needed to restore their farms, strengthening food security and livelihoods.

Irrigation

Decades of armed conflict have also left many irrigation canals damaged, which severely reduced farmers’ ability to sustain their crops. To address this challenge, the ICRC works closely with local communities to restore vital sources of water and ensure reliable irrigation for agricultural lands.

In 2024, over 27,000 workers were hired through 16 community-based initiatives to repair irrigation systems, construct flood-protection walls and clean canals across 11 provinces, providing them with short-term employment opportunities and benefiting thousands of people through improved water supply (photo).

“We were facing financial difficulties, especially during our harsh winters. The ICRC’s project not only provided us with an income but also restored an essential water source for our farmlands,” said Haji Shah Wali of Surkhshal village.

“Previously, water was wasted because of poor management. Now, with the canal functioning properly, I am confident our wheat and potato harvests will bring us good income this year.”

To support the community in Gerikhil, the ICRC partnered with the Afghan Red Crescent Society to launch a project to clean canals. This initiative provided income to 175 community members and benefited 1,400 farmers by improving irrigation access.

The canal restoration will also bring wider economic benefits, supporting neighbouring villages and Pachiragam district’s central market. With improved management of water, farmers will be able to cultivate their land more efficiently, see yields increase, and expand their ability to sell produce locally and beyond.

Sustainable farming

To support sustainable farming practices and reduce post-harvest losses, the ICRC organized specialized training sessions for farmers that focused on best practices in post-harvest management, helping farmers minimize grain losses and improve storage efficiency.

In 2024, 200 farmers from Kapisa province were trained in the management of post-harvest loss and provided with metal silos for storing grain.

Additionally, 80 farmers in Paryan district of Panjshir province were trained to promote good agronomic practices and raise awareness about climate and environmental risks, enabling them to share their knowledge with fellow farmers.

Abdul Mobin, 48, from Kapisa’s Kohistan Hesa Awal district, said later: “I lacked knowledge of several important farming techniques, especially regarding post-harvest loss management. However, the ICRC’s five-day training helped me gain valuable insights which I can confidently apply on my farm.”

Abdul Mobin also received two metal silos and agricultural tools to improve his farming efficiency. “These silos have been useful to store my harvest, and the tools have made my work easier both during and after harvesting. Before this project, my post-harvest losses were over 40 per cent, but now they have been reduced to zero,” he added.

Janeth Idolog, who leads the ICRC’s economic security programmes in Afghanistan, said, “Empowering farmers with the right knowledge, tools and resources is key to building resilient communities. We are not only improving agricultural productivity but also restoring critical irrigation systems and securing livelihoods for thousands of families.”

To address damage to canals sustained during decades of armed conflict, the ICRC works closely with local communities to restore vital water sources, such as here in central Uruzgan province, and bring agricultural land back to life and restore rural livelihoods. (Photo: ICRC)