This document provides an overview of agriculture in Afghanistan. It discusses the country's geographical location, climate zones, key crops, and agricultural practices. Some key points: - Afghanistan's agriculture sector makes up 34% of GDP and employs 75% of the population. Wheat is the main cereal crop, accounting for 85% of cereal cultivation. Grapes are the primary fruit crop. - The climate varies significantly by region, with average temperatures from -20C to 42C. Most rain falls from January to November. - Traditional farming methods rely on local varieties, tools, and manure. However, the government is now promoting commercialization and investment in agriculture. - Major challenges include poor irrigation, lack

1. Prepared by: Hazrat shah Azizi Msc student first year, G.B Pant university, Pantnager,
Uttarakhan. India
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2. Introduction
Geographical Location
of Afghanistan;
 Central Asia
(29°40′-38°40′N )
(60°31′-75° 30′E)
 Altitude MSL (1884m)
 Total area: 652,230 (Sq.
km) 34 Provinces & 367
Districts,
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3. Overview of Agriculture
 Importance of Agriculture…
 GDP (Agriculture 34%)
 75% depend on Agri.
 Total Agriculture Area:(14.73%)
 Arable land (7.45%)
 Main fruit crop grapes (48%)
 Main vegetable crop potato
(41%)
 Main cereal crop wheat (85%)
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4. Climate of Afghanistan
MAIL has divided whole
country into 6 zones:
 Average Temp(C°)
 Max(42°)
 Average (35°)
 Min(-20°)
 Average rain fall (327mm)
 Rain falling/ Snow Falling
period (Jen- Nov-Mar)
 Average Wind Speed:
(5.7km/hour)
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6. Agriculture Practices
 Average Farm holding (2.0 ha)
 Substantial Agriculture
 Organic Agriculture
 Traditional Tools
 Local varieties
 Local Machineries
 Local Manure/Fertilizer
 Recently Gov. Policy has
changed: Commercialization
 Investment on Agril.
 Agril. Bank
 NGO’S
 Private Sector
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7. Agricultural Extension
Gardening development:
 Aims: To promote transmit modern technology to farmers
Agricultural education and propaganda:
 Aims: Increasing the capacity of farmers, gardeners, landowners and coastal extension to the
center and provinces.
Promotion and development of agriculture:
 Aims: promote the different levels of agriculture.
Agricultural Mechanization:
 Aims: Replacement of traditional farming system with modern machinery farming system.
 Promote and train the use of all kinds of agricultural machinery.
 Raising crops per unit of land.
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9. Post harvest management
 Low level management
 Non-Availability of
infrastructure Facilities,
 Storage
 Transport
 Process
 Packaging
 Losses
 Fruits (35-40%)
 Vegetable (40-45%)
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11. Marketing problems
 Poor roads.
 Limited market
information.
 Lack of storage and
processing facilities.
 Luck of farmer
cooperatives.
 Limited market bargaining
power against traders.
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12. Land utilization (%)
Total land area
1. Permanent pasture 46.00
2. All other land 39.27
3. Agricultural area 14.73
a) Forest and woodland 2.73
b) Fallow land 7.28
c) Irrigated crops area 3.48
d) Cultivated rain fed area 1.24
Source: MAIL, 2017-2018
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13. Fig. 2: Agricultural land
Forest and woodland
19%
Irrigated crops area
24%
Fallow land
49%
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Cultivated rain fed area
8%

14. Land Utilization
78%
2%
10% 10%
Fig.3: Cultivated Land Area
2018
Total cereal
Vegetables
Fruits
Others 85%
4%
6%
3% 2%
Fig. 4: Cultivated Cereals
Area 2018
Wheat
Rice
Maize
Barley
OTHERS
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15. Apple
13%
Apricot
9%
Peaches
4%
Grape
41%
Fruit fresh nec
27%
others
6%
Fig. 5.: Area Under Fruit Cultivation 2018
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16. 145237
181380
211000
78681
82450
87194
13038
19365
26847
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
2016 2017 2018
Fig. 6.: Trend in Area (Ha)
Total fruits Grape Apple
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17. Potato
41%
Onion
23%
Other Vegetable
36%
Fig. 7.: Area Under Vegetable Cultivation 2018
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18. Fig .8.: Main Fruits Production(%)
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4.1 1.8
10.9
11.3
61.5
10.4
peach Almond Pomegrante Apple Grapes Others

19. The characteristics and name of dry fruits of Afghanistan
 First, it is necessary to distinguish two categories when talking
about nuts. (dried nuts) (nuts, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios,
fig etc.) Moreover, dried or dried fruits properly dried or dried
(raisins, prunes, dried figs, etc.).
 As regards the latter, due to drying, they are in all cases more
concentrated than in their fresh state. However, the loss of
some water-soluble vitamins (such as vitamin C) is
unavoidable. In contrast, the absence of water increases the
concentration in sugar, making these fruits more caloric.
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20. Productivity Comparison of main fruits (Afghanistan Vs. Developed
Countries) (MT/Ha) 2018
Number Type of fruit Afghanistan Developed
countries
1 Apricot 8.9 25
2 Almond 1.6 3
3 Peaches 7 60
4 Plum 7 20
5 Grape 8.5 50
6 Apple 8.5 20
7 Cherry 9 14
8 Pomegranate 9.5 20
9 Citrus 8 20
10 Walnut 1.5 4
11 Pear 4 47
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Source: MAIL, 2017-2018

21. Growing vegetable in Afghanistan
 Vegetable growing in most port of Afghanistan, and in addition to being
enough for use of Afghanistan people also export to various countries
around the world that have a good income for the government and nation.
 Vegetables which commonly growing in different port of Afghanistan have
a good quality.
 One of the reasons why Afghanistan's top quality vegetables are freshwater.
 In Afghanistan homes, vegetable cultivation has become a culture.
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22. Green house.
Greenhouse, also called glasshouse, building designed for the protection of
tender or out-of-season plants against excessive cold or heat.
 The main goal of creating home gardens and greenhouses is to increase
women's access to social work, reduce malnutrition, and provide people with
access to winter vegetables.
 Quality vegetable production.
 Production of vegetables in different seasons.
 Share women in greenhouse production.
 The main crops in green house are( tomato, cucumber, alvera, flowers…)
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23. Afghanistan Saffron(red gold)
 Saffron cultivation at a high record in Afghanistan.
 After three straight year of being recognized as the worlds highest quality saffron.
 Afghanistan saffron is making its mark on the world.
 Afghanistan saffron got first position in the world in this year( a week ago) and three years
before ago.
 Herat saffron is the branding title of Afghanistan saffron company,(ARG) founded in 2006.
 Natural saffron from the fields of Afghanistan vegan, raw and without gluten, organically
grown and hand harvested and natural color, super aroma and perfect flavor.
 Steep desired amount of saffron in worm water or milk for 30 minutes.
 In 2017 Afghanistan saffron production was 10.6 metric tons( worth 25 million$), fortunately
in this reached 16 metric tons.
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24. Livestock
 Livestock production is a major source of income and food for Afghan
farmers and their families. For some, such as the Kuchi (nomads), animals
are the only source of income.
 The results show that in Afghanistan 3.7 million cattle, 8.8 million sheep,
7.3 million goats, 1.6 million donkeys, 180 000 camels, 140 000 horses and
12.2 million poultry.
 The number of cattle per family, for example, has fallen from 3.7 in 1995 to
1.22 in 2003, while the number of sheep decreased particularly sharply
from 21.9 to 2.9 over the same period.
 The Ministry of Agriculture is seriously working to grow and strengthen
livestock in the country. As Afghanistan succeeded in producing over 80%
percent of its poultry meat products last year, reaching on the verge of self-
sufficiency.
 And also at the section of providing
pastures because of increase
the number of animals again.
24Source: FAO/MAIL

25. Irrigation
o Free irrigation(by river and stream), Drip irrigation system, irrigation by
solar energy, and irrigation with the modern approaches which result in
reduction of water loses, is trying to increase production and reduce the
need for water, which results to the economic growth of farmers and
gardeners.
o Drip irrigation system makes the products grow well and does not require
lots of burden but it has lots of income. The method has been tested
experimentally in most of the provinces. Irrigation with the solar energy
has also widely been promoted. The introduction of land leveling
technology or “laser leveling” has reduced land requirements for water,
which the technology has been widely distributed to farmers during the
course of the year.
o In 2018 (1397 Solar Year), nearly 350 irrigation networks was built by the
Ministry of Agriculture across the country and the same number will be
built this year as well. These irrigation networks increase the production
capacity of lands, increasing the land capacity by 25 percent and preventing
water loses by 15 percent.
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Source: MAIL, 2017-2018

26. Natural Resources
 Forests, waters, pastures, protected areas, and medicinal plants farms are
collection of natural capitals of Afghanistan.
 MAIL, along with the cultivation and maintenance of these capitals, will
revitalize forests, pastures, and natural landscapes by setting up effective
and productive plans, and the restoration of these capitals reach thousands
of acres of land each year.
 Creation of more and productive forests such as pistachio forests, pine nuts
forests, and walnut forests and restoration of medical plants farms
throughout the country, creation of Kabul Green Belt and its extension are
the basic and ongoing programs in the natural resources sector.
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Source: MAIL, 2017-2018

27. Fig. 9.: Agri. Export Composition
Fresh grapes
43%
Fresh apple
17%
Pomegranates
12%
Tomatoes
10%
Onions
5%
Melons
2%
Watermelon
2%
Other
9%
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28. Strengths of Agriculture sector in Afghanistan
 Agro-climatic condition is very suitable for the production of variety of
unique products.
 Soil suitability for the horticultural production especially for fruits.
 Existence of big national markets like Kandahar, Kabul, Herat, Mazar and
Jalalabad.
 Afghanistan horticultural products( fruits) are well-known regionally as
well as worldwide.
 Most of Afghan farmers are already familiar with the production of the
horticultural crops.
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29. Weaknesses
o Water management and irrigation.
o Non Availability of financial support:
— Credit, Insurance,
o Infrastructure problems:
 Cold Storage, Transportation, Process and value adding, Quality
Control and standard etc….
o Subsistence and traditional agriculture,
— Local verities, Local Machineries, Local Manure/Fertilize
o Marketing and Export related problems.
o Non availability of agricultural technologies to the farmers.
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