Report - United States Department of Defense

UNCLASSIFIED
2013 was variable across Afghanistan. There are currently four provinces facing 30-60 percent
of the precipitation from 2011 to 2012, 12 provinces at 60-80 percent, nine provinces at 80-95
percent, one province at 95-105 percent, three provinces at 105-120 percent, four provinces at
120-140 percent and one province at just under 140 percent to precipitation accumulation over
2011-2012 season. Overall, the precipitation levels and heavily fluctuating temperature means
could shift crop success upward in 2013. Spring flooding is not expected to be significant
compared to 2012.
The impact of the lower total volume of crops in 2012 was offset by higher market prices.
Exceptions were potatoes, at 500,000 metric tons, pomegranates and wheat, which were all at or
above average yields and therefore provided adequate income to those farmers. The outlook for
the 2013 grain harvest also looks promising, as the planted area for winter crops was normal and
MAIL and the UN “distributed approximately 20,000 metric tons of improved wheat seeds to
households across the country.” Livestock conditions and prices were also higher in late 2012,
supporting better nutritional variety and food security nationwide. Consequently, the overall
outlook for agricultural livelihoods and food security appears positive through summer 2013.
On February 12, 2013, the JCMB officially endorsed both National Priority Programs; NPP 1
“National Water and Natural Resources Program” and NPP 2 “National Comprehensive
Agriculture Production and Market Development Program.” Highlighted in NPP 1 is GIRoA’s
need to establish irrigation associations at the community level that will largely be responsible
for the operations and maintenance of all existing irrigation structures. The document continues
by outlining the need for repairs to irrigation infrastructure, capacity building efforts, improving
watershed management, extension of natural systems monitoring, and more. Highlights of NPP 2
include the goal to improve sustainable agriculture production and productivity and increase on
and off-farm enterprises, contributing to food security, inclusive economic growth, and reduced
dependency of subsistence farmers and laborers on narcotic crops. All of these improvements,
enhancements, repairs, and local accountabilities will help lay the foundation for agricultural and
sustainable economic growth in Afghanistan.
Agribusiness development continues to be key driver to increasing overall economic growth and
per capita GDP with the core rural population of Afghanistan. Many donor-funded programs are
also focused on supporting core agribusiness creation, improving the agricultural value chain and
increasing agricultural productivity and production. Additionally, the Agriculture Development
Fund (ADF), which lends credit to small commercial farmers and agribusinesses, has reached a
level where 89 percent of contracts are compliant with Sharia principles. ADF has been the
foundation for the future creation of an Agricultural Bank, which will be overseen by MAIL.
This evolution is improving the small-agribusiness and private-sector growth opportunities for
rural farmers and encouraging foreign and national investment in agribusiness development.
Agriculture’s long-term success depends on education, capacity building, and private sector
development, as well as inclusion of women in the agriculture value chain. Agribusiness
development, along with private and publicly funded vocational schools focused on agriculture,
agribusiness, maintenance, and operations are closing the knowledge gap on agricultural
advancements that were lost over the past 30 years. Proper education, better technological
knowledge, improved inputs including irrigation, and value chain improvement will support
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