Farmers in western Herat province say a lack of agricultural training and limited awareness of crop diseases have reduced their yields this year, leaving many with significantly smaller harvests than in previous seasons.
Several orchard owners and farmers told local media their crops were damaged by pests and plant viruses they were unable to identify or treat. Grain fields — considered one of the most valuable assets for rural households in Herat — also produced below expectations.
“God is my witness, I planted wheat on eight jeribs of land this year,” said Amanullah, a farmer. “From eight jeribs, I harvested only three kharwars (about 1,200 kg). From that harvest, I paid the tractor costs and taxes to the Taliban. For the rest of the year, I had to buy flour from the market to feed my family.”
Farmers also cited the lack of structured markets for agricultural goods as a major obstacle, saying they often spend hours waiting to sell their produce at local fruit markets, only to accept low prices that fail to cover expenses.
“Our orchards did not produce well this year,” said Ramazan, another farmer. “What we did harvest, we took to the wholesale market. We waited until noon, then had to sell four kilos for 50 afghanis. We don’t know whether to use that money to pay our debts or cover our transport.”
Abdul Sattar, a farmer from the province, said the absence of organised sales outlets was undermining livelihoods. “Our main problem is that there is no proper market for our produce,” he said. “We hope the markets are regulated so farmers can earn from their labour. Right now, there is no proper authority to support us or cover our costs.”
Farmers say the situation has worsened since international organisations and UN-affiliated agencies scaled back support programmes following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
In previous years, these groups provided agricultural training and organised regional exhibitions to help farmers promote their produce inside Afghanistan and across the region.
Producers in Herat say many of those initiatives have now been reduced or discontinued.
