Flash floods, soil erosion, and changing rainfall patterns in Panjshir put farmland and farmers’ livelihoods at risk. The Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock in Panjshir reports that 11 agricultural infrastructure projects were implemented in Anaba and Abshar districts during the first six months of this year.
Panjshir, with its mountain valleys, fast-flowing rivers, and farmland, is one of Afghanistan’s provinces where seasonal changes in water levels can directly affect farmers’ lives. Rising temperatures cause snow to melt faster, while heavy rainfall and flash floods can damage farmland and orchards in a short time. During periods of water shortage, access to sufficient water for farming and irrigation becomes very important.
In these conditions, agricultural infrastructure is not built only to make farming easier. It can also help protect farmland, reduce damage from natural disasters, maintain crop production, and improve farmers’ access to markets.
However, building a canal or retaining wall alone cannot solve all these problems. The success of these projects also depends on where they are built, the quality of their design, river conditions, water management, and the vulnerability of nearby farmland.
When floods destroy farmers’ assets
Ahmad Zahed, a farmer in Panjshir’s Abshar district, says that before retaining wall projects were implemented, floods often damaged farmland and nearby infrastructure. He owns two jeribs of farmland and says that when floods occurred, bridges and culverts were often damaged, while farmers had no adequate facilities to protect their land.
He says that the implementation of infrastructure projects has helped protect farmland and crops from flood damage.
“The construction of retaining walls and improvements to the facilities around our fields have improved the situation. The risk of flooding on our farmland has been greatly reduced. This year, our harvest was better, and our crops were protected from flood risks. Without these projects, our losses would have been much greater,” he says.
This experience shows that protecting farmland is about more than construction. For farmers whose assets and livelihoods depend on their land, it is a way to prevent the loss of an entire season’s harvest.
Ahmad, another farmer from Anaba district, describes similar problems. He owns three jeribs of farmland and says that floods previously damaged fields and local culverts, causing serious losses for the people living there. According to him, building canals and retaining walls has improved the situation, but these projects need to be expanded to more districts and villages.
“Most people in this area rely on farming for their livelihoods. If the land does not produce crops, people lose their source of income. Without these projects, people would have lost their crops and even their food,” he says.
From protecting farmland to getting crops to market
Farmers’ problems in Panjshir are not limited to floods and damage to their land. In some villages, poor roads make it difficult and expensive to transport crops and fruit to markets.
Zahiruddin, an orchard owner in Abshar district, says that although farmers grew fruit in the past, the lack of proper roads made it difficult to transport their fruit crops to the capital of Panjshir and Kabul.
Before bridges, culverts, and roads were built, farmers relied on donkeys to transport their crops. This was time-consuming and made it difficult to reach markets. With improved roads, orchard owners can now pack their harvests more regularly and transport them to markets by vehicle.
“In the past, there were no roads, and we could not transport our products to the capital of Panjshir or Kabul. Now, we can pack our fruit properly in baskets and cartons and send it to Kabul. The situation has changed by around 70 to 80 percent compared with the past,” he adds.
The orchard owner wants these projects to be expanded to Paryan, Hesa-e-Awal, and Rokha districts. He says that in some villages in these areas, the lack of bridges and proper roads limits the use of farmland and makes it difficult for farmers to transport their crops to markets.
Improved rural roads can also reduce post-harvest losses. Fresh crops can lose quality or spoil due to transport delays, a lack of access to markets, and a shortage of storage facilities.
The problem is not always a shortage of water; sometimes, there is too much
For Sohrab, a farmer in Abshar district, one of the main agricultural problems in the region is the rise in water levels during spring and the damage caused by floods.
He says that as temperatures rise and snow melts, river levels increase, putting farmland near riverbanks at risk. Under these conditions, crops that farmers have worked for months on can be destroyed in a short time.
“Our problem is not a shortage of water. Sometimes, there is too much water. When the snow melts in spring and river levels rise, floods wash away our land and destroy our crops. Building retaining walls can help protect farmers’ investments,” he says.
He suggests building suitable retaining walls in areas where floods damage farmland. In areas where there is not enough water for irrigation, canals and water storage facilities should be built.
These views highlight two different types of climate risk. In some areas, rising river levels and floods are the main threats, while in others, water shortages and a lack of irrigation systems are the biggest problems. Therefore, climate adaptation measures must be designed to meet the specific needs of each area.
How can infrastructure help farmers become more resilient?
Shad Mohammad, a resident of Abshar district, says that before these projects were implemented, the lack of roads and retaining walls left people vulnerable to seasonal floods. According to him, during spring and summer, melting snow causes river levels to rise. In some places, existing waterways cannot handle the increased flow, putting nearby farmland at risk of damage.
He says that some families spent years improving their land, only for floods to destroy the results of their hard work in a short time. However, he emphasizes that some problems still remain.
“These projects have helped reduce some of the damage caused by seasonal floods and other natural events, but some sections of the Abshar road are still unpaved. Completing and improving the road would make travel easier for local people and help them transport their crops to markets more easily,” he adds.
Water management; from building canals to improving irrigation methods
Zelgai Naseri, head of the Water and Environment Department at the Faculty of Engineering at Parwan University, says that climate change is putting increasing pressure on water resources and farmland through rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, and flash floods.
According to him, alongside improving irrigation methods, building water storage facilities in suitable areas can help people make better use of water during the rainy season and reduce pressure on water resources during periods of water shortage.
“Building retaining walls cannot reduce flood risks to zero. Watershed management, vegetation cover, soil characteristics, and hydrological conditions must also be considered. In mountainous areas such as Panjshir, rivers have steep slopes, and water flows at high speeds. Therefore, infrastructure must be designed according to actual river conditions, water flow, and potential risks,” he says.
Therefore, adapting agriculture to climate change requires a combination of infrastructure, consumption management, and planning based on scientific information.
Eleven projects implemented in two districts of Panjshir
Fazlullah Dewband, head of the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock in Panjshir, says the main aim of these infrastructure projects is to support farmers, strengthen agricultural infrastructure, and reduce the vulnerability of farmland to floods and soil erosion.
According to him, 11 projects to support farmers were implemented in two districts of Panjshir during the first six months of this year.
“During the first six months of the year, 11 projects were implemented in Anaba and Abshar districts. These included the construction and repair of irrigation canals, the construction of retaining walls, the repair and gravel surfacing of rural roads, and canal cleaning. The work included 1,092 metres of irrigation canals, about 471 metres of retaining walls, and 5,800 metres of rural roads,” he says.
He emphasizes that, given climate change, the risk of flash floods, and periods of water shortage, agricultural infrastructure must be designed to meet current needs while also taking future challenges into account. He says the department is working through these projects to improve access to water, protect farmland, and help farmers access markets.
Farmers’ accounts show that retaining walls, improved canals, and repaired roads have helped reduce everyday problems in some areas. However, the water specialist’s views show that infrastructure development also requires a broader plan. Such a plan should identify areas at risk of flooding, address the water needs of farmland, and improve transport routes and storage facilities for agricultural crops.
From Panjshir to global climate change discussions
Agricultural infrastructure in Panjshir is part of broader efforts to protect farmland, water resources, and food production from the impacts of climate change. In this mountainous province, farmers face challenges to their livelihoods from flash floods, soil erosion, seasonal water shortages in some areas, and difficulties transporting crops to markets.
For farmers in Panjshir, protecting their land means protecting their capital and their families’ livelihoods. If a flood washes away their land, they may lose an entire season’s harvest or even the results of years of hard work. If water does not reach their fields, crop production declines. If suitable roads are not available to transport their crops, they may lose part of the value of their harvest before it reaches the market.
For this reason, irrigation canals, retaining walls, and rural roads are three interconnected parts of agricultural production infrastructure.
This local experience in Panjshir is closely linked to global discussions on climate adaptation and food security. As the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31, approaches, strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities and protecting food systems are becoming increasingly important. COP31 is scheduled to be held in Antalya, Turkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.
The message from Panjshir’s farmers to COP31 is clear: climate adaptation must begin with farmers’ real needs. Climate programs can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives only when they turn into practical action—action that brings water to farmland, protects land from damage, and makes it easier for farmers to transport their crops to market.
Reporter: Liza Omari
A report from the “Maseer Sabz” program
