Rehabilitation and reconstruction
in the aftermath of war in Afghanistan

One of the most serious consequences of 18 years of civil war in Afghanistan has been disruption of agriculture and a sharp decline in food production. FAO, supported by funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other donors and with the support of NGOs active in the country, has been helping to restore sustainable agricultural production through a programme for integrated crop and livestock production.

The programme combines several separate earlier projects involving agronomy, seed production, crop improvement, horticulture and plant protection, as well as support for apiculture and sericulture. The programme functions as an extension service, setting up farmers' field schools in some 80 districts in the country's main production areas. Technical information is transferred to farmers at village level through demonstration and training, with farmers selected from within the community taking the lead.

In only two years the programme has achieved a great deal. For example, in 1995/96, 17 000 tonnes of quality seed - mainly wheat but also rice, maize, barley, pulses and cotton - were produced and distributed by a network of local seed growers, set up under the programme. Crop improvement is also being pursued through selection, testing and multiplication of disease-resistant varieties. In 1996 the programme established 66 new private fruit-tree nurseries in 19 provinces; a further 97 are to be established in 1997.

Another important area of activity has been restoration of animal health services. Afghans traditionally depend on livestock as an important source of food and income, but animal production had suffered during the war when veterinary services collapsed. Beginning in 1992, FAO has worked with other international organizations and NGOs to establish community-based veterinary field units in 219 of Afghanistan's 325 districts. The field units are staffed by more than 2 000 Afghan animal health workers. A survey conducted in seven districts after three years of operation showed that livestock mortality had been reduced by 22 to 60 percent. The financial benefit from decreased mortality averaged US$120 000 per district.