Badakhshan facing acute food shortage

FAIZABAD (SW) – Thousands of Badakhshan residents are faced with grim food security challenge amid the arrival of harsh winter.

Officials and locals informed Salam Watandar the drought-affected remote areas of the province need urgent and sustainable support as winter approaches.

Talabuddin Qaderi, member of the provincial council, said there were no rains in the harvest season, and while the farmers in remote areas were about to collect the yield, snow has hit the crops causing damages. He feared if the government and aid agencies failed to address the peoples’ concerns, the residents of many remote districts would face severe food shortage.

 A number of farmers echoed these concerns. They said the crops are hit by unusual snow inflicting damages.

Mohammad Aalim Aalimi, director agriculture, irrigation and livestock, said the province has always relied on wheat brought from outside the province, and this time the demand would surge to 80 per cent. He, however, assured that the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, has set aside up to 4360 tons of wheat aid for the needy people in the province.

ENDS