{"id":30938,"date":"2026-10-04T07:53:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T07:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swn.af\/en\/?p=30938"},"modified":"2026-10-04T08:40:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T08:40:04","slug":"planting-calendar-vs-climate-change-kapisa-farmers-message-to-cop31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swn.af\/en\/2026\/10\/planting-calendar-vs-climate-change-kapisa-farmers-message-to-cop31\/","title":{"rendered":"Planting calendar vs. climate change; Kapisa farmers\u2019 message to COP31"},"content":{"rendered":"

For years, farmers in Kapisa, Afghanistan, have used their experience to determine when to plant: from September to December for some crops and from May to July for summer crops. They also consider rainfall, soil moisture, and hot and cold weather to determine the right time to work in the field.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But today, this traditional calendar faces a new question: when rainfall becomes less frequent or irregular, winters bring less snow, and temperatures rise, can the same calendar that guided previous generations still be a reliable guide for farmers?<\/p>\n

In Kapisa, farmers have different responses. Some say the main planting dates have not changed significantly, but when rain comes late or there is not enough water, they have to delay planting by several days or even two weeks. Others speak of declining rainfall, water shortages, and rising temperatures\u2014factors that sometimes affect not only the time of planting but also the amount of crops produced.<\/p>\n

Planting time can be one of the ways to help agriculture adapt to climate change, but any changes should be based on local conditions, water availability, soil, crop type, and weather and climate information. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) considers changing planting and harvesting times, changing crop varieties, managing water, and choosing suitable crops among the adaptation options in agriculture.<\/p>\n

If the rain comes late, we delay planting<\/h5>\n

In the villages of Kapisa, decisions about planting time are still largely based on family experience.<\/p>\n

Faisal, a farmer in the province, says he and other farmers still use their experience from previous years and consider the right season for each crop when deciding when to plant. At the same time, however, they are also noticing changes in the weather.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere used to be more rainfall, but now there is less. When there is no water, we cannot have a good harvest,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

According to him, smartphones have also become one of the new tools used by farmers. They check weather forecasts to see whether rain is expected or not, and then decide when to plant.<\/p>\n

This change may seem small, but it shows an important change in the way farmers make decisions.<\/p>\n

Farhad Mohammadi, another farmer in Nijrab district of Kapisa, says the planting times for wheat, corn, beans, barley, and potatoes in the area have not changed much from the past. However, he considers the decrease in rainfall and snowfall one of the noticeable changes in recent years.<\/p>\n

According to him, there used to be more snow and rainfall during the winter, but in recent years, less rainfall has caused water shortages in some fields and damaged part of the harvest. He says that when rain comes late, \u201cwhen the fields are ready for planting, if there is no rain, planting will be delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n

This experience is also shared by Reza Khan, another farmer in Kapisa. He says that when rain comes late, farmers, especially those farming rain-fed land, wait several days until the soil has enough moisture for planting.<\/p>\n

For these farmers, climate change does not necessarily mean a complete change in the planting calendar. Instead, it is mostly seen in the form of changing conditions that once helped determine the planting calendar.<\/p>\n

Dawood Khan, another farmer in Kapisa, explains the limits of this adaptation. He usually plants wheat from Sep 23 to Oct 22 and sometimes plants until November 1 or 6. After harvesting the wheat, he plants corn. However, he says that cold weather, rainfall, and field conditions do not always allow farming activities to take place on the specific dates.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the rain comes a little earlier or later, people can usually change the planting time by about 10 to 15 days. But we cannot delay planting for one month, one and a half months, or two months,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Traditional calendar; valuable, but no longer enough on its own<\/h5>\n

Abdul Basir Torabi, a climate expert, says traditional planting calendars are based on the experience of several generations and local knowledge of rainfall, temperature, and seasons. However, he says climate change can alter the timing of rainfall, the length of the growing season, temperatures, and the occurrence of droughts and heat waves.<\/p>\n

\u201cA date that was suitable for planting in the past may not always be the best time to plant today,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

He emphasizes that the solution is not to ignore farmers\u2019 experience. Instead, local experience should be combined with new information. According to him, the amount and timing of rainfall, air and soil temperatures, soil moisture, rainfall and temperature forecasts, the risk of frost, extreme heat, available water, crop type, seed type, and local conditions should all be considered in deciding the planting time.<\/p>\n

What does a weather forecast mean for a farmer?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

One important point in this report is the difference between a weather forecast and a seasonal climate forecast.<\/p>\n

Weather forecasts are useful for the coming days and weeks. For example, they can show whether rain is expected in the next few days or whether temperatures will rise.<\/p>\n

Seasonal forecasts look at broader patterns. For example, they can show whether a season is likely to be drier or warmer than usual.<\/p>\n

Torabi adds that a seasonal forecast cannot tell a farmer that \u201cit will definitely rain on a specific day.\u201d Instead, it provides information about the likelihood of broader weather patterns of a season. This difference is important for agriculture.<\/p>\n

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says weather and climate services can help farmers make decisions about planting and harvesting times, water and fertilizer management, and the control of pests and diseases. The organization emphasizes combining weather forecasts, from short-term to seasonal forecasts, with actual conditions in the field so that scientific information can be turned into practical advice for farmers.<\/p>\n

Therefore, weather forecasts are not meant to make decisions instead of farmers. Rather, they should be used as a tool to help reduce the risks involved in decision-making.<\/p>\n

When is the field actually ready for planting?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Wahidullah Mosawi, an agricultural specialist, says the planting time for different crops depends on environmental factors and the characteristics of the seed. According to him, soil temperature and moisture are important factors for seed germination and early plant growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe field is ready for planting when it has enough moisture and the temperature should be such that the seed can grow and germinate in the soil,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

This is particularly important for rain-fed fields because rain-fed farming depends heavily on rainfall and soil moisture. He also points to differences in height in Kapisa. Higher areas are usually colder, and planting times there may be different from those in warmer and smoother areas.<\/p>\n

As a result, even within one province, there cannot be one fixed date that is suitable for all fields. Crop type, height, soil, moisture, temperature, and water availability are all part of the actual planting calendar.<\/p>\n

What does climate science say?<\/h5>\n

The experience of farmers in Kapisa is also consistent with the approach of international organizations.<\/p>\n

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in its training program on \u201cCrop Calendars for Climate Adaptation,\u201d says planting calendars can become more accurate by using rainfall data, information about crop growth and plant phenology, and climate forecasts. The organization also emphasizes integrating seasonal and short-term climate forecasts into planting-calendar planning.<\/p>\n

FAO also considers planting calendars a tool for providing information about planting and harvesting times and farming practices suitable for different climate regions.<\/p>\n

But changing planting time alone is not enough<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Experts emphasize that if the main problems are water shortages, rising temperatures, pests, soil erosion, or declining soil fertility, merely changing the planting date cannot solve all these problems.<\/p>\n

The IPCC considers changing planting and harvesting times one of the adaptation options in agriculture, but it also lists changing crop varieties, irrigation and water management, and choosing suitable crops as other options. The organization also warns that changing planting dates and crop varieties alone cannot compensate for all possible losses as temperature levels rise.<\/p>\n

Therefore, Afghanistan\u2019s agricultural adaptation requires a combination of measures:<\/p>\n