HERAT — A growing number of farmers in Herat province say their crops and orchards are under severe threat due to the lack of pesticides and plant disease treatments, raising alarm over the future of agriculture in one of Afghanistan’s key farming regions.
Farmers described a steep decline in yields, saying the absence of basic agricultural inputs has left their fields vulnerable to insects, fungal infections, and viral plant diseases.
Mullah Sirajuddin, a 60-year-old farmer, has spent his life tending the same land on the outskirts of Herat. In years past, he said, his orchards flourished. But today, his fruit trees are withering.
“If we had pesticides, it would make a big difference,” he said, standing among rows of weakened peach trees. “But we don’t have the financial means, and no one is helping us. Look at these peaches — without spraying, they’re stunted. No government body or agency has provided any assistance.”
His experience is echoed across the region. Farmers in multiple districts told Amu TV that, without proper treatment options, pests and diseases are devastating their crops. They say their efforts to produce healthy yields are increasingly futile.
“We need the government to cover at least half of our needs,” said Fareedun, another farmer. “Farmers do not have the economic strength to manage alone.”
The situation has worsened since the suspension of aid from the United States and international organizations. Several farmers reported that agricultural extension services and support programs once provided by NGOs have either ended or drastically scaled back, leaving them without advice or resources.
“Our request to the government is simple,” said Nasir Ahmad, a farmer. “We need chemical fertilizers. We need pesticides to protect our trees. Without that, the diseases are spreading.”
Despite Herat’s favorable conditions for farming — including access to water, fertile soil, and a motivated workforce — the sector is increasingly strained. Farmers cite the high cost of agricultural inputs and the lack of reliable markets as major barriers to maintaining productivity and sustaining their livelihoods.
Without urgent intervention, they warn, more farms will go fallow — and Afghanistan’s already fragile food security could deteriorate further.
