Afghanistan at risk of losing 40% of farmland in worst drought in decades

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan risks losing 40% of its farmland due to the country's worst drought in decades, a new monitoring report warned.

According to the latest Afghanistan Seasonal Monitor from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, the country is experiencing below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures that have triggered soil moisture deficits across the nation,

The crisis marks the sixth consecutive year of poor weather conditions. Farmers are abandoning fields as irrigated crops struggle to survive and rain-fed wheat production continues to fall.

Northern and central Afghanistan face precipitation deficits of up to 100 millimeters through December 2025, according to the monitor. Water shortages are exacerbating the crisis in these regions, which are seeing widespread crop failures, particularly in wheat farming, with soil moisture at critically low levels.

In the northeast and central parts of the country, where rain-fed crops are vital, many farmers are unable to plant or maintain crops. Even irrigated areas are struggling with declining groundwater levels.

A survey released in November by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found that traditional irrigation systems, such as "qanats", are failing, forcing farmers to dig deeper wells.

Climate change has made droughts more frequent and severe, with above-average temperatures intensifying the situation.

Snow water volumes, essential for irrigation, are at their lowest levels in years, the monitor said.

Many farmers are seeing their income collapse as 40% of farmland remains unused. Even in irrigated areas, people face difficulties due to water scarcity and climate change. More than 75% of rural households depend on agriculture, and many are struggling with food insecurity, according to the report.

The report warned that unless conditions improve, food shortages could worsen, causing higher food prices and economic instability. It predicted that if the situation persists, farmland abandonment and declining crop yields will continue, worsening the crisis for the country's farmers.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network was established by the US Agency for International Development in 1985 and provides early warning and analysis of acute food insecurity worldwide.