Four fifths of the Afghan population live in rural areas, and most
are farmers or farm
labourers. The Winter Survey provides an account of the structure of
the farming
sector and the rural farming population in Afghanistan, with an emphasis
on food
security.
The 2002-2003 crop season in Afghanistan was the first one
planted and harvested in
relative peace, after the end of a long period of domestic and international
strife and
political instability, and also the first one after the long drought
that afflicted the
country since 1999, a plight that in many parts of the country ended
only with the
Autumn rains in late 2002. After staging a healthy recovery in 2002,
but still with
many areas under the effects of the drought, agriculture in Afghanistan
continued its
recovery in the 2002-2003 crop year with a significant increase in
areas planted, and
an very good harvest. |