Herat, Afghanistan - On 29 May 2019, H.E. Nikolaj Hejberg, Danish Ambassador to Afghanistan, and Mr. Johnny Almestad, Norwegian Minister Counsellor to Afghanistan joined Rajendra Aryal, FAO Country Representative for the ceremonial handover of livestock inputs to drought-affected farmers in Herat. The ceremony took place at the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (PAIL) in the presence of PAIL Director, Mr. Abdul Saboor Rahmany and the national media.

The visiting delegation also interacted with the project beneficiary farmers from Ghoryan, Kushk Kohna, Kohsan and Gulran districts in Herat and took stock of the impact of drought on their livelihoods and their needs.

 “Addressing the needs of Afghan farmers is our first priority. The Government of Denmark is committed to supporting farmers and specifically the agriculture sector,” said H.E. Hejberg, Danish Ambassador in Afghanistan.

After three years of back-to-back failed rains, Afghanistan was faced with a devastating drought that witnessed failed crops, livestock deaths, dried up pastures and migration of farming families. Fortunately the country experienced good precipitation last winter that has allowed the return of farmers to their places of origin and resume their agriculture-based livelihood activities, however the impact of the drought was significant. Continuous support is still required to help the most affected people get back on their own feet.

The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Governor H.E. Abdul Qayum Rahimi in his office. Discussions were held on the challenges and opportunities for the agriculture sector in Herat, and the best possible ways to strengthen the partnership to support the agriculture sector in Afghanistan.

 “We have received some support but the impact was huge. We need more support to get back to our normal lives. Before the drought, I had 50 livestock, but now it is reduced to five because all of them died”, said one of the beneficiaries that attended the ceremonial handover.

The distribution was a part of a larger Denmark-funded project to support more than 35 000 vulnerable farming families in Badghis, Daikundi, Ghor, Helmand, Herat and Kandahar provinces that were most affected by the drought. Families in the six provinces will benefit from the provision of concentrated animal feed, fodder crop seed, deworming medicine and trainings.

FAO helps drought-affected farmers in their places of origin with the aim to prevent further migration in larger cities which directly affects the socio-economy affairs of people in cities.