QALA-E-NAU (SW) – Crippling drought and fears of food insecurity has forced up to 600 families to flee homes in Badghis province.
Officials say that this year is a dry year in the western part of the country, especially in the Badghis province. Abdul Tawab Nayeb, Badghis’ director of agriculture, irrigation and livestock, told Salam Watandar that signs of drought were being felt in all districts and the provincial capital.
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According to the head of agriculture, for several days now, the teams of this department have been studying the drought rate this year. Abdul Tawab Nayeb added that there are more than 60,000 hectares of irrigated land in the province, most of which have not been harvested this year due to lack of rain.
“Drought is felt in all districts of Badghis province and its rainforests have been damaged as most areas of the province are dependent on rain”, he said, adding only 230 mm of rain fell in the province last year and early this year, but this amount of rain was not available when farmers needed it and therefore did not bring much benefit to the province’s crop cultivation.
Farmers in Badghis are also concerned about this year’s drought crisis in the province, saying they have not harvested any of their crops this year.
Ghulamud Modood, a farmer in Badghis, said he planted wheat, chickpeas, barley and watermelon in his fields this year, but it has not yielded any results. “Last year, I planted wheat, but this year I did not get a single grain.
A number of residents of Badghis who have been displaced by the drought expressed concerns over poverty, lack of food and shelter.
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