Planting seeds of hope in Afghanistan

Years of war and drought have devastated the agricultural production of Afghanistan and led to serious food security concerns. Conflict and displacement have caused the loss of livestock and damage to farmland and assets. In Kabul Province, farmers in war-damaged areas are struggling to restore their livelihoods. In Samangan Province, severe drought has left many unable to grow enough food to feed their families.

In 2008 Islamic Relief helped farmers in the Kabul and Samangan provinces set up committees to identify their needs and collectively find ways of overcoming their problems. We also supplied quality wheat seed and fertiliser to farmers at a subsidised cost in time for the spring and autumn planting seasons, benefiting 25,000 people.

The newly formed committees have helped Afghan farmers feel more in control of their livelihoods and the seed distribution has led to an increase in wheat production for poor families. It has also meant that farmers no longer have to take out interest-based loans in order to pay for seed and fertiliser.

Mohammed Ahmed Awad from Ofoud Eltoum village in the Giessen Locality is one of 20,000 people who have benefited from a new health clinic in his area. “The centre has brought a sense of comfort to the community,” he told Islamic Relief. “Until now we had to travel to Damazine to access medical care. We helped construct the health centre and we see it as our own. For a long time it was a dream of ours to have this facility locally and now it’s become a reality.”