Farmers and livestock owners in Guzara district of Afghanistan’s western Herat province say severe economic hardship and rising agricultural costs are threatening their livelihoods, forcing many to cut back on animal feed and scale down crop production.
Dairy farmers said they have been unable to afford proper feed for their cattle during the winter and are relying on dry grass and straw, after food assistance for livestock that was available in previous years failed to materialise this season.
“We used to receive animal feed support, but those programmes have stopped,” said Abdul Latif, a cattle owner in Guzara. “The prices of bran and oilcake are very high and people simply cannot afford them.”
Crop farmers in the district said the planting season for wheat has begun, but soaring prices for improved seeds and chemical fertilisers have made it difficult to farm effectively. Some said they were unable to cultivate their land properly due to the high costs.
“The biggest problem is fertiliser prices,” said Qudratullah, a farmer in Herat. “If fertiliser were affordable, farming would be worthwhile. Now a single bag costs more than 5,000 afghanis, which many farmers cannot pay.”
Local sources said several aid organisations that previously supported agriculture and livestock in Herat have scaled back or suspended assistance over the past two years, citing funding constraints.
Afghanistan’s agriculture sector, which employs a large share of the population, has been hit hard by economic isolation, reduced foreign aid and climate-related shocks, raising concerns about food security and rural poverty as winter deepens.
