Samad Bay sows certified wheat seed he received from FAO, expecting a higher yield compared to the local seed he previously used. ©FAO/Hashim Azizi

In the face of persistent drought, instability, and a crumbling economy, Afghanistan’s farmers have shown incredible resilience, and FAO’s wheat programme has played an important role in improving the country's food security. By distributing certified wheat seeds and essential inputs to millions of smallholder farmers, FAO is not only reducing household food insecurity as well as bridging the gap between wheat production and consumption but is also providing a sustainable path towards self-sufficiency. In 2024 alone, wheat cultivated from FAO-distributed seeds will meet the yearly needs of nearly 20 percent of Afghanistan's population, making a significant impact to national food security.

Fazel Seddiq, a 35-year-old farmer from Dahan Mangan village in Badghis province, shared his experience: “My yield has doubled due to good quality seed and fertilizer. I planted two jerib (0.4 ha), and God willing, I shall harvest 2.6 tonnes of wheat, valued at 66 875 Afghani (USD 976), which will be sufficient for my family for the entire year.” This testimony underscores how FAO’s intervention is directly improving farmers’ yields, enhancing food security, and fostering hope for Afghan families. Read Fazel Seddiq’s full story here.

Afghanistan's food security crisis reached alarming levels in late 2021 and early 2022, when over 55 percent of the population faced acute food insecurity. With generous support from the international community, FAO and the resilient Afghan farmers helped to drop this figure to 28 percent by May 2024. Despite the ongoing challenges posed by climate change, political instability, and economic contraction, FAO’s emergency agricultural humanitarian assistance has been instrumental in this remarkable reduction of food insecurity. WFP’s food assistance also played a crucial role too.

The success of FAO’s wheat programme lies in its large-scale distribution of wheat cultivation packages, which will directly benefit over 840 000 households, equivalent to 5.88 million people in 2024. This achievement would not have been possible without the generous support of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), USAID, and Sweden, who contributed to the wheat distribution packages. The wheat programme focused delivers more than just seeds; it provides a pathway for Afghan farmers higher food security to improve yields and secure a stable food source for their families. Each cultivation package contains 50 kg of certified seeds, 100 kg of fertilizers, and training for farmers. These improved seeds, more resistant to drought and pests, have been shown to produce yields sufficient to feed a household’s ahead needs, and the seeds will keep producing good harvest for three years or more, and at a fraction of the cost of importing wheat. For just USD 203 per household, FAO ensures that families are equipped to feed themselves, contributing to both food security and social peace.

The macroeconomic benefits of FAO’s wheat programme are equally compelling. By reducing dependence on imported wheat, Afghanistan can preserve valuable foreign exchange reserves and address the country's trade imbalance. More importantly, the programme supports rural livelihoods, helping to slow migration to cities or abroad in search of scarce employment opportunities. By keeping people in their home areas and empowering communities, the wheat programme also fosters stability.

FAO’s wheat programme is part of FAO’s broader effort to address Afghanistan’s agricultural food system needs. Alongside livestock support, backyard production programmes, and sustainable irrigation efforts, FAO is promoting sustainable rangeland management for a better ecosystem where smallholder farmers thrive despite the harsh conditions. With further investment, FAO can close Afghanistan’s wheat production gap and set the country on a path towards lasting food security and transformed agrifood system to the world need better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life for Afghanistan’s people.

The technical experts of FAO, in collaboration with other partner organizations in the field, consistently provide farmers with essential training programmes on wheat cultivation, irrigation, fertilizer usage, and harvest management. FAO has been able to support farmers in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, for which we are deeply grateful. This cooperation has enabled us to reach over 400 districts on all of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, ensuring that our aid reaches vulnerable farmers who are most in need.