Baghlan, one of Afghanistan’s leading agricultural provinces, is known for its fertile farmland and the heavy reliance of much of its population on agriculture and livestock farming. In recent years, however, climate change, irregular seasonal rainfall, and flash floods have caused severe and often irreparable losses for thousands of farmers across the province.
Ghor Province has a long tradition of handicrafts, particularly khamak embroidery, and is considered one of Afghanistan’s important centers for this traditional art. Deeply rooted in local culture and customs, khamak embroidery not only reflects the province’s cultural heritage but also serves as an important source of income, helping many women achieve economic self-sufficiency.
A number of farmers in Nangarhar have been cultivating strawberries for several years. They say they have chosen to grow strawberries because the crop produces higher yields and generates greater profits than many other crops.
In Mazar-i-Sharif, a young girl with a physical disability in her legs has established an educational center that provides free training in tailoring, literacy, and cooking for dozens of girls. This initiative has become an opportunity for many of the center’s students to learn skills and achieve financial independence.
Khanum Gul, a resident of Sarmata village in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz, has been engaged in livestock farming for more than 20 years. Five years ago, she also started orchard farming. Her days are spent caring for her cows and goats, tending to her orchard, and working on her farmland—tasks that, despite the fatigue and difficulties they bring, have become an inseparable part of her life.
In a narrow street in Herat, the sound of sewing machines and the smell of leather fill a small but vibrant workshop, where Kamela Mirzaei—a girl whose life took an unexpected turn and who was denied the opportunity to continue her education—now works in a shoemaking workshop. She says the workshop has been operating officially for the past four years and is run with the help of her family members.
Ghazni is one of the key agricultural provinces in the central part of Afghanistan, where a large proportion of residents across its eighteen districts are engaged in farming and livestock rearing to cover their living expenses.
The Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) covering Afghanistan said it has supported farmers in Herat through the distribution of agricultural equipment.
Salam Watandar’s interviews with 20 women who had independent incomes before becoming unemployed show that, besides covering their personal needs, they also contributed to their families’ expenses. They say unemployment has now pushed all of them toward a shared fate: dependence — a situation the interviewed women describe as difficult and worrying.
A widespread infestation of the Wheat Sunn Pest (kafshak) has caused serious concern among farmers in wheat fields across Faryab Province. Field reports indicate that this year’s outbreak has increased significantly compared to previous years, severely affecting the districts of Pashtun Kot, Almar, Shirin Tagab, Chehel Gazai, Khwaja Namusi, and Qaisar.
In recent years, climate change, as one of Afghanistan’s most serious challenges, has left widespread impacts on the agriculture and livestock sectors. Reduced rainfall, rising temperatures, and continued droughts have gradually destroyed natural pastures and reduced fodder production — a situation that has seriously threatened the livelihoods of thousands of livestock-raising families, particularly in Kapisa province.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has report that mass returns, climate changes, and aid cuts push Afghanistan further into crisis.
