Afghan farmers quit as worst drought in decades bites

When his wheat crop failed and wells dried up, Ghulam Abbas sold his animals and joined thousands of other farmers moving to cities as Afghanistan’s worst drought in living memory ravages the country.

A lack of snow and rain across much of Afghanistan in the colder months destroyed the winter harvest, threatening the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

Mr Abbas, 45, has moved with 11 of his family from Charkint village in the northern province of Balkh to the provincial capital Mazar-i-Sharif to find work.

In more than 30 years of farming, “I don’t remember a drought as severe as this year’s”, he said.

As dry conditions and high temperatures persist, there are increasing concerns about the spring and summer crops. Afghanistan’s wheat harvest for the year is already expected to be its lowest since 2011.

Faced with an estimated shortfall of 2.5 million tonnes, more than two million people could become “severely food insecure”, the UN says.

Tens of thousands of sheep and goats have died and many desperate farmers have eaten next season’s seeds, as rivers and wells dry up.

“If the authorities and the international community don’t step up to this challenge now, Afghanistan could face a calamity,” said Toby Lanzer, the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Afghanistan.

But thousands of farmers have already given up hope.

“Three years ago it rained and snowed well in our village,” Mr Abbas said. “The crops yielded well and I made more than 300,000 afghanis [Dh15,200]. This year I made less than 100,000 afghanis.”

The drought adds to Afghanistan’s troubles as its security forces struggle with the Taliban and ISIS.

Agriculture is the backbone of the Afghan economy. Almost 15 million people are employed in farming in the 20 provinces worst affected by the drought, the UN says.

Prices for sheep and goats have plunged as farmers rush to sell their animals before they become even weaker. If aid does not reach farmers soon, more might turn to more drought-resistant crops such as opium poppies, Mr Abbas said. Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium.

“The conditions will eventually force people to turn to illegal crops.”

The conditions will eventually force people to turn to illegal crops GHULAM ABBAS Afghan farmer