Why agriculture fails in an agricultural country? The case of Afghanistan

By: Sayed Mohammad Naim Khalid

Afghanistan has a long history of agricultural production, but the country's agricultural sector has been significantly impacted by ongoing armed conflict and insecurity, which has made it difficult to develop and sustain the sector. There are a number of reasons why the productivity of Afghan agriculture is low, and why young people are not interested in the sector. Some of the main factors include:

1.      Lack of access to markets: Rural communities in Afghanistan often lack access to markets and infrastructure, making it difficult for farmers to sell their products and earn a living. This can discourage farmers from investing in their farms and lead to low productivity.

2.      Insecurity and displacement: Ongoing armed conflict and insecurity have resulted in displacement of communities, disruption of livelihoods, and damage to infrastructure. This has made it difficult for farmers to access land, water, and markets, leading to a decrease in production and income.

3.      Lack of investment in agricultural infrastructure: A lack of investment in infrastructure such as irrigation systems, roads, and storage facilities has made it difficult for farmers to increase their productivity.

4.      Limited access to inputs and technology: Afghan farmers often have limited access to inputs such as seed, fertilizer, and agricultural equipment, and lack of access to modern farming techniques which can make it more difficult for them to improve their yields.

5.      Lack of education and training: Many farmers in Afghanistan lack access to education and training, which limits their ability to adopt new technologies and farming practices.

6.      Weather variability: Afghanistan is heavily dependent on rain-fed crops, this makes the agriculture sector highly dependent on the weather, droughts, floods and landslides are common issues that affect the production.

7.      Political instability and economic challenges: Afghanistan has long been in a state of political instability and economic turmoil, making it difficult to achieve a sustainable and stable agricultural sector.