A number of residents of Nangarhar Province who work in olive processing say that investment in the olive industry can create job opportunities and help generate income for others.
A number of youth in 10 provinces of Afghanistan say that despite having bank accounts, difficulties accessing cash when needed, problems with ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), and a lack of trust caused by previous unsuccessful experiences with the banking system have led them to prefer keeping their money at home. They say this increases the risk of theft and spending money too quickly, while also making it more difficult to save.
As water resources continue to decline in Afghanistan, some farmers in Farah province say saffron farming can provide them with a source of income because the crop requires less water. They emphasize that their main needs are creating opportunities for saffron cultivation and improving access to the domestic market for the product.
Shilajit is a rare natural substance found in the high-altitude and rugged mountains of Badakhshan. The black substance comes out of rocks and cliffs and, after being collected, cleaned, and processed, is sold in the market. Despite the many difficulties and risks involved in collecting it, many residents of these areas continue to extract and sell it.
In the plains and villages of Faryab, Afghanistan, drought is no longer affecting only farmland. Pastures have decreased, fodder has become more expensive, and extreme heat has made life harder for livestock. For families whose food, income and financial security depend on cattle and sheep, the loss or weakening of livestock means more than losing an asset. It can mean less milk and meat, lost income and greater difficulty providing food for their families.
In Baghlan, the «Poza-e Eshan Agricultural Research Farm» has in recent years been working to identify and develop cotton varieties that are more resistant to water shortages, extreme heat and diseases by establishing a cotton collection. At the center, characteristics such as fiber length, boll weight, plant height, growing period and the level of crop production are examined so that seeds better suited to future climate conditions can be identified and made available to farmers.
In the mountainous areas of Daikundi, Afghanistan, almond blossoms are being damaged by sudden spring frosts, while consecutive droughts are reducing harvests. For families who depend on almonds for their livelihoods, this is more than the loss of a crop. It means smaller meals and growing financial pressure, forcing some families to sell their remaining livestock, borrow money to buy food from local shops, and cut back on meals.
Interviews with 33 youth who began higher education four to 14 years later than the usual age show that they resumed their studies when circumstances allowed. According to those interviewed, economic problems were the main reason they could not enter university on time.
A number of youth say that, for various reasons, they have not had the opportunity to learn certain academic and technical skills at schools and universities. However, through hard work and perseverance, they have acquired these skills through self-learning and, after gaining the necessary abilities, found jobs and started earning an income in the same fields. Salam Watandar’s interviews with 24 youth aged between 20 and 35 from six provinces of Afghanistan show that self-learning has helped them acquire various skills needed in the labor market.
Mass return of migrants, population growth, and the increasing number of university graduates is putting greater pressure on Afghanistan’s labor market while according to experts, the country’s capacity to create jobs and grow its economy is not aligned with the growing workforce. They say that if this trend continues, pressure on the labor market will increase, along with the risk of rising poverty and unemployment.
Akbar starts his work every morning at his greenhouse in Ghor by checking the cucumber plants and monitoring the irrigation system. He says that becoming familiar with drip irrigation through a radio educational program changed the way he farms and encouraged him to use the method in his greenhouse.
It is seven in the morning, and youth who work as drivers are standing beside their cars at Shahrak Terminal in Nili, the capital of Daikundi province. Some are drinking tea, while others silently stare at the road that runs through the mountains of Daikundi toward Kandahar and Kabul. Only occasionally does a passenger enter the terminal, ask about the fare, and leave again. Waiting has become a major part of these drivers’ daily lives—a difficult wait that sometimes lasts for days.
