KABUL (SW) – Afghanistan is still facing a shortage of wheat yields and requires to import over 1.5 million metric tons of wheat, said officials at the de-facto Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MoAIL).
According to officials, the country has harvested 5 million metric tons of wheat from 2.14 million hectares of fields this year, marking a 13% increase compared to previous years.
Misbahuddin Mustaeen, spokesperson for the MoAIL, said that Afghanistan’s total wheat requirement is 7 million metric tons. Currently, only 5 million metric tons are met from domestic production, necessitating the import of an additional 1.5 million metric tons.
He elaborated, “The demand for wheat is higher. In the first year of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, wheat production was between 3 and 3.5 million metric tons. After three years, we have approached our target, reaching 5 million metric tons. The area under wheat cultivation has increased by 6.4 hectares compared to last year, but Afghanistan still requires 7 million metric tons of wheat. Currently, 5 million metric tons come from domestic sources, and 1 to 1.5 million metric tons must be imported.”
Agricultural experts suggest that mechanization is crucial for increasing wheat yields in the country.
Abdul Aleem Osmani, an agricultural expert, emphasized that for Afghanistan to achieve wheat self-sufficiency, farmers need targeted educational programs.
“Our agriculture remains traditional. We can only achieve self-sufficiency by mechanizing our farming practices. We need to use machinery and upgrade our irrigation systems to standard levels. Additionally, farmers should receive the necessary training,” he said.
Abdulbaqi Rostaie, another agricultural expert, added that crop rotation, the distribution of improved seeds, and soil testing are vital for increasing wheat production.
He explained, “First, we should use high-yield seeds instead of traditional ones. Second, we need to practice crop rotation, third, conduct soil testing, and fourth, use agricultural machinery. Mechanization is a key principle in boosting production, and Afghanistan still relies on basic tools.”
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in the first three months of the current Solar year, 17,000 metric tons of wheat were imported from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, India, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates, worth 1.6 million dollars.
