Afghanistan
Since November 2008, UT Extension has been providing technical assistance to a Tennessee Army National Guard unit, under the command of Col. Jim Moore, focused on agricultural development in Paktya Province of Afghanistan. In support of this effort, this pageserves as an electronic library of useful references categorized by topic and listed alphabetically. Please contact Dr. Michael Wilcox (mwilcox2@utk.edu) if you have additional materials that you would like to have included on this page.
News From the Front
The Ag Shura Newsletter is from our Tennessee National Guard troops in Afghanistan.
Agriculture
Community Development
Economic Growth
Food Security and Health
Natural Resources and Environment
Soil and Geography
Transportation and Security
Weather and Climate
Afghanistan Natural Resources and Agriculture Sector Comprehensive Needs
July 2002
This needs assessment for the medium term development of the natural resources and agricultural sector is based on sub-sector programs or investments, institutional reforms and capacity building, and policy reform. The recovery process requires a coordinated response on each of these aspects for the medium term development outcomes to be achieved. The assumptions underlying this development are one of a market led economy, with Government pursuing prudent financial and fiscal polices and a liberal trade regime. Additionally, the recovery process is premised upon continued political stability, and a return to normal climatic conditions.
Asian Development Bank
Afghanistan Seed and Crop Improvement Situation Assessment (Draft)
This review had the following objectives:
- 1) Assess the current status and future outlook of crop improvement including variety evaluation and testing, variety maintenance and breeder seed production.
- 2) Collect, analyze and summarize detailed information on the actual seed needs of farmers in Afghanistan during the 2002 spring, summer and fall seasons, and how these could be effectively met from external sources and on time.
- 3) Analyze the current status and functioning of the formal seed system in Afghanistan in terms of its capacity and scope for quality seed production, distribution and use by farmers nationwide, and prospects for future development.
- 4) Analyze the current status and functioning of the informal seed system in Afghanistan in terms of varieties and seed issued, quality considerations, exchange and distribution channels in operation, views and perceptions of farmers, and the prospects for future development.
- 5) Prepare a draft code-of-conduct for seed sector interventions, including seed production, distribution, and import of seed and planting material.
Assessment Team assembled by International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
April-May 2002
Agri-development in Paktya Province
This is a presentation given by Dr. Kevin McNamara in November 2008 during a day long training held at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This presentation covers the pressing Agri-development issues being faced in Paktya Province and across Afghanistan.
Agri-Food Past, Present & Future Report, Afghanistan
February 2007
Agriculture continues to be the backbone of the Afghan economy. While arable land accounts for only 12% of the available land area, the sector was able to be almost entirely self– sufficient and a net exporter of many high-value commodities. Over the last three decades, cultivated land area has declined by half to just 6% of the country because of population dislocation, land mines, drought and damage to centuries-old irrigation infrastructure. Permanent crops make up less than 1% of total land use.
Agri-Food
Agriculture in Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries
November 16, 2001
Agriculture's share of total economic activity – as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) – is significant in seven countries located in Central and South Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Its share ranges from about one fifth in Tajikistan to more than one half in Afghanistan. Those employed in the agricultural sector account for a large portion of the entire labor force in all seven countries. Agricultural workers account for almost one-third of all employment in Iran; in Afghanistan, farmers and related workers represent more than two-thirds of the labor force.
Remy Jurenas, The National Agricultural Law Center
Case Study of the poultry and grape/raisin subsectors in Afghanistan : Guided case studies in value chain development for conflict-affected environments
March 2008
Is the value chain approach effective for restoring market-based economic activity in a severely affected post-conflict environment? The goal of this study is to gather empirical evidence to answer this question, looking at the role of the value chain approach in the work of USAID’s Rebuilding Agricultural Markets Program (RAMP) and Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP) projects in Afghanistan, the way the work was conceived and executed, and whether the value chain approach was a significant factor in achieving impact.
Executive Summary of Afghanistan Agriculture Master Plan
The Master Plan follows earlier planning efforts with the benefit of considerable experience, which leads to a number of substantial modifications as well as expansions on earlier efforts. It is formulated to move the country rapidly towards a high growth rate, rapid reduction in poverty and substitution for poppies. The plan starts with agriculture as the basic engine of a high proportion of overall growth and dominating poverty reduction and poppy substation. It sets commodity priorities to ensure food security, massive growth of exports, and serving a rapidly growing domestic market for high quality diversified diets. It states cross cutting priorities essential to achieving the commodity priorities.
Proposed final version of the Master Plan
(Document downloaded from USAID/L TERA AFGHANISTAN)
Making Agriculture and Productive Management and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources the Engine of Socioeconomic Development in Afghanistan
January 2004
The purpose of developing this Policy/Strategy document is to broaden and enrich the existing MAAH strategy of “Developing Agriculture and Livestock”, to cover the entire agriculture and natural resource sector (water, crops, livestock, forestry, rangeland and wildlife resources). The revised policy/ strategy, therefore, will reflect the relevant national and sectoral policies, as well as clear definition of roles and responsibilities of the major stakeholders in the sector, namely the government, the private sector, farming communities and the international aid agencies and development partners.
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
Natural Vegetation Map of Afghanistan
NGO Voices on Agriculture and Rural Development
April 2008
This paper is one of a series of advocacy papers produced in the advocacy component, the purpose of which is to improve the quality of civil society—including non-governmental organizations (NGO)--engagement in sectoral debates and to provide recommendations for implementation of sectoral activities.
Agency Coordinating Body For Afghan Relief, Ruth Purves
Participatory Rural Appraisal, Practical Experiences
J. Nabasa, G. Rutwara, F. Walker and C. Were
Paktya Province Crop and Pest Information
This document presents a list of common crops, insects, and diseases in the Paktya Province with Latin Family and Species names.
A Policy and Strategy Framework For The Rehabilitation and Development of Agriculture and Natural Resource Sector of Afghanistan
February 10, 2004
A series of comments and concerns were expressed by the major development partners. As a result, the advisory council of the MAAH was delegated that with the participation of the representatives of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources and Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, a working group should be formed to draft a policy/strategy framework for the agriculture and natural resources taking into account the overall national policies and suggestions and concerns expressed by the international development partners
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources
Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
Rebuilding Afghanistan’s Agriculture Sector
April 2003
This report outlines sector strategies and needs, summarizes the subsector report findings, and highlights the programming aspects. The key issues, objectives, short (1–2 years) and medium-term (3–5 years) needs, and required policy agenda for each subsector are outlined in a subsector matrix table. Separate sections cover institutional and capacity-building needs, the policy agenda, and implementation strategies.
Asian Development Bank
Recommendations across NGO's and Governments to Rebuild Afghanistan's Agricultural Sector
2007
Redeveloping Afghanistan's agricultural sector is foreseeable, but its success is highly dependant on the country's economic and political situation. While foreign aid is being used to help its situation, Afghanistan requires action from its own government and people, which involves much political reform, investment, and education, as well as other factors to change its agricultural system.
Water Management, Livestock, and the Opium Economy
November 2008
This paper synthesizes the preliminary findings, conclusions and recommendations emerging from the first year of AREU’s study, “Applied Thematic Research into Water Management, Livestock and the Opium Economy” (abbreviated to WOL).
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, Alan Roe
The A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance
AREU's flagship publication, aims to ensure a shared vocabulary and common understanding of the forces at play in Afghanistan by providing a glossary of assistance terms, an overview of Afghanistan's system of government, a series of locator maps, key primary documents, and an extensive contact directory. Understanding the old and new aid structures and the confusing array of assistance organizations and processes in Afghanistan poses a formidable challenge to both new arrivals and "old Afghan hands.
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
Afghanistan Community Development Councils
Needs Assessment Handbook
October 2005
The main objective of the CDCs is to provide much needed services to local communities until such time as local governments are capable of providing comprehensive support to the local population. Data was recorded, collated and a basic statistical analysis was conducted to develop this handbook and provide an overview of the National and Provincial/Regional perspectives of the development problems.
Declaration of the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan
June 2008
This conference marks a new commitment to work more closely together under Afghan leadership to support the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS). We reaffirm that the Afghanistan Compact remains the agreed basis for our work. We will give priority to strengthening institutions and economic growth, particularly in agriculture and energy.
Global Review of Good Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Practices
Rome 2008
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
NGO Voices on Agriculture and Rural Development
April 2008
This paper is one of a series of advocacy papers produced in the advocacy component, the purpose of which is to improve the quality of civil society—including non-governmental organizations (NGO)--engagement in sectoral debates and to provide recommendations for implementation of sectoral activities.
Ruth Purves
Agency Coordinating Body For Afghan Relief
Provincial Profile for Paktya Province
September 2006
Paktya Province is located in the south of Logar Province. This is a mountainous province with irrigated and rainfed agricultural land. The major natural resources of this province are forest and gas. Farmers of Paktya Province are growing wheat, maize, rice and potato. They also have fruit orchards of apple, apricot, and walnut. And they are selling their products in the local and Pakistan markets. Peoples also are collecting pine nut seeds from forest areas and selling in the local and Pakistan markets.
Regional Rural Economic Regeneration Strategies
Rapid Rural Appraisal
The process of rapid rural appraisal is a series of techniques for “quick and dirty” research. Explore the farming system, Identify the target population, Identify the problem, Investigate the nature of the problem, Explore possible solutions.
PowerPoint file / PDF File
Rapid Rural Appraisal Data Checklist
J.Nabasa, G. Rutwara, F. Walker C. Were, M Wilcox
Rural Development Map
This map of Afghanistan shows how many rural development activities are taking place in each province.
Village Book
This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to forming, organizing and leading a Community Development Council. The mandate of the Community Development Council is serve the social and economic needs and interests of all the members of the community. The guide provides descriptions of leadership positions, code of conduct for members and a constitution.
Afghanistan without poverty : a plain language guide to poverty in Afghanistan
April 2008
This is a plain language guide to poverty, the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the Afghanistan Pilot Participatory Poverty Assessment (APPPA). The Agency Coordinating Body of Afghan Relief (ACBAR) has produced this booklet to increase people’s understanding of poverty and development initiatives in Afghanistan.This guide aims to describe poverty; how it’s caused and how to reduce it. The idea is to explain the related ideas of poverty reduction and development in an accessible and understandable way.
Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR)
Food Insecurity Map
This map of Afghanistan shows percentage of district population with food insecurity for each district.
Paktya's Health Map
This map of Afghanistan’s province of Paktya’s hospital and clinic locations along with rivers, roads, and villages with population density.
Natural Resources and Environment
Afghanistan's Environment
2008
This Executive Summary provides readers with a short overview of the key environmental issues, factors and drivers of environmental change in Afghanistan, and highlights the latest achievements and prospects ahead. Each chapter of the Executive Summary gives an overview of the context, importance and use of natural resources, what is known about their current conditions, trends and linkages to regional or global factors. The report also reveals how Afghanistan’s natural resources – if managed in an efficient and sustainable manner – could provide the basis for future economic growth and stability.
National Environmental Protection Agency of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan United Nations Environment Programme
Afghanistan Natural Resources and Agriculture Sector Comprehensive Needs
July 2002
This needs assessment for the medium term development of the natural resources and agricultural sector is based on sub-sector programs or investments, institutional reforms and capacity building, and policy reform. The recovery process requires a coordinated response on each of these aspects for the medium term development outcomes to be achieved. The assumptions underlying this development are one of a market led economy, with Government pursuing prudent financial and fiscal polices and a liberal trade regime. Additionally, the recovery process is premised upon continued political stability, and a return to normal climatic conditions.
Asian Development Bank
Community Based Approaches to Rural Land Administration and Management in Afghanistan
Resolving rural land property and tenure problems is essential for tackling ongoing instability and the sluggish recovery from war, conflict and drought conditions in Afghanistan. Disputes over land are manifold and are bound to rise with increased refugee return and internally displaced persons moving back to their native places. These disputes are over private properties as well as pastures, though to differing degrees. Evidence suggests that pastures are the principal source of conflict in Afghanistan. Furthermore, availability and access to pasture as a resource are fundamental features of the Afghan socio-economy and as such represent the backbone of livelihoods for a majority of rural households.
Department for International Development
Asian Development Bank
Making Agriculture and Productive Management and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources the Engine of Socioeconomic Development in Afghanistan
January 2004
The purpose of developing this Policy/Strategy document is to broaden and enrich the existing MAAH strategy of “Developing Agriculture and Livestock”, to cover the entire agriculture and natural resource sector (water, crops, livestock, forestry, rangeland and wildlife resources). The revised policy/ strategy, therefore, will reflect the relevant national and sectoral policies, as well as clear definition of roles and responsibilities of the major stakeholders in the sector, namely the government, the private sector, farming communities and the international aid agencies and development partners.
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
A Policy and Strategy Framework For The Rehabilitation and Development of Agriculture and Natural Resource Sector of Afghanistan
February 2004
A series of comments and concerns were expressed by the major development partners. As a result, the advisory council of the MAAH was delegated that with the participation of the representatives of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources and Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, a working group should be formed to draft a policy/strategy framework for the agriculture and natural resources taking into account the overall national policies and suggestions and concerns expressed by the international development partners
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources
Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
How the Water Flows: A Typology of Irrigation Systems in Afghanistan
Water Management, Livestock and the Opium Economy
June 2008
This paper develops and presents a typology of irrigation systems in Afghanistan. It is intended to enhance knowledge of irrigation methods and management with the aim of improving system performance and productivity. It is also intended to provide those involved in irrigation rehabilitation and natural resources management with a better understanding of the link between irrigation systems and livelihood sustainability. The importance of irrigated agriculture is undeniable since it is the mainstay of food security and income for the majority of the rural population, accounting for more than 70 percent of total crop production.
Rob Rout
Mineral and Geologic Map
This map of Afghanistan shows the location of geologic and mineral resources throughout the country.
NGO voices on water
April 2008
This paper is one of a series of advocacy papers produced in the advocacy component, the purpose of which is to improve the quality of civil society - including non-governmental organizations (NGO) engagement in sectoral debates and to provide recommendations for implementation of sectoral activities. This will be achieved through the presentation of the perspectives of the NGO community in relation to sectors identified, during the APPPA research component, as priorities by APPPA-target communities.
Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief
Patkya
Map showing Afghanistan’s Paktya Province’s cover crops, landscape, roads and villages.
Soil Map
This map shows soil types in Afghanistan.
East Afghanistan
This map shows the boundaries, roads, and villages of eastern Afghanistan
Landmine Map
This map of Afghanistan shows the percentage of settlements within five kilometers of landmine and UXO contaminated areas broken down by districts.
LOC Routes
This map shows the major LOC routes into Afghanistan.
Paktya
This map of Afghanistan’s Paktya province shows the rivers, roads, and settlements.
These maps show roads, rivers, and major towns of the districts of the Patkya Provinces in Afghanistan.
- Azra District
- Chamkani District
- Dand Wa Patan District
- Gardez District
- Jadran District
- Jaji District
- Jani Khel District
- Lija Mangal District
- Sayid Karam District
- Shamai District
- Shwak District
- Zurmat District
Climate Map
This map of Afghanistan shows the various climates along with rainfall and hours of sunshine.
Rainfall Map
This map of Afghanistan shows the amount of rainfall per season.
Relevant Links
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
Food and Agriculture Organization
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development