Category: Soceity

How has the agricultural calendar changed in Nangarhar?

Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and water shortages have disrupted the traditional agricultural calendar in Nangarhar. Wheat is ripening earlier than usual, vegetables are being damaged before the harvest season, and some farmland has been left uncultivated due to water shortages. As a result, farmers are facing growing challenges, while experts emphasize the need for a climate-smart agricultural calendar aligned with the changing climatic conditions across the province.

Holding multiple jobs simultaneously; youth’s efforts to improve their economic situation

Findings from Salam Watandar’s interviews with 25 youth (14 young men and 11 young women) who hold multiple jobs show that taking on two or more jobs at the same time is less a matter of choice than an economic necessity and a way to acquire new skills.

Drought and plant pests; orchard owners in Herat complain about low-quality pesticides

Consecutive droughts, unusually high temperatures, and water shortages have left orchard owners in Herat struggling with the spread of plant pests and declining crop yields. Orchard owners say that despite repeatedly spraying their orchards and spending large sums on pesticides, plant pests continue to damage their crops.

Plant pests and low-quality pesticides; a threat to agricultural production in Parwan

For years, farmers in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, have been facing an increasingly serious threat to their crops, with the problem worsening each growing season. Farmers say that, in recent years, plant pests and diseases have damaged large areas of their vegetable fields and fruit orchards, while also increasing production costs. Despite repeatedly applying chemical pesticides, they often fail to control the pests. Plants and trees continue to dry out, grow slowly, and produce lower yields.

Return and alienation; youth returnees struggle to reintegrate into society

The findings of Salam Watandar’s interviews with 17 Afghan youth who were born in Iran and Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan over the past year show that some of them are facing economic, social, and educational challenges. These difficulties have made it harder for them to integrate into and adapt to Afghanistan’s social and cultural environment.

Limited access to health services delays diagnosis of a hole in the heart in children

Salam Watandar’s interviews with 14 women whose children have a hole in the heart (Atrial Septal Defect) show that limited access to healthcare centers during pregnancy and childbirth, along with a lack of awareness about the disease, has delayed the diagnosis and treatment of their children.

UNDP plans to establish 75 solar-powered greenhouses in five provinces

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan plans to establish 75 solar-powered greenhouses in the country.

Residents of Ghazni City complain about trash bin shortages

As the urban population grows and the amount of waste increases, the shortage of trash bins has become a major challenge for residents of Ghazni City, the capital of Ghazni Province.

Kuwait donates $2.5 million to Afghanistan

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan has announced that Kuwait has donated $2.5 million to the country.

Traffic congestion in Pol-e Khumri; a challenge disrupting residents’ daily lives

Traffic congestion on the roads of Pol-e Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, is making daily life difficult for residents. Drivers complain about higher fuel costs and blocked roads, residents say they are often late for work and school, and shopkeepers report a drop in the number of customers.

«University at home»; the story of a girl learning with AI

My name is Sahar Rahimi. Like many other girls my age, I had big dreams for my future. After graduating from high school, I studied hard for the Kankor exam. My goal was clear: I wanted to study English at the Faculty of Literature at university. When the results came out and I found out that I had passed the exam, I felt as if the whole world belonged to me. I was full of hope and wanted to begin my university journey so that I could build a better future for myself.

The burden of family responsibilities deprives youth of the joys of being young

A number of youth in Afghanistan who bear the burden of meeting their families’ needs say that this responsibility has deprived them of educational opportunities, career goals, and the joys of being young.