Afghanistan Network 

on Food Security

 

Afghanistan Food Security Bulletin

July, August and September, 2005

Water Security 

Food security is dependent on the 

achievement of water security, 

because food and water are 

highly interconnected in 

Afghanistan. More than 80% of 

Afghans live in rural areas, 

subsisting on natural resources 

such as land and water, although 

some would argue that the key 

income determinants are labor 

migration, wages and 

remittances. 

Twenty-five years of war and 

destruction, combined with 4-7 

years of substantial drought and a 

growing demand for water, have 

created a significant challenge for 

the Afghan government and 

development agencies. 

Over 80% of the country’s water 

resources originate from the Hindu 

Kush Mountains at altitudes above 

the 2,000m (Qyreshi Asad, Water 

Resources Management in 

Afghanistan, Issues and Option, 

International Water Management 

Institution, June 2002). During 

winter, the Hindu Kush stores water 

in the form of snow. At the 

beginning of spring, snow starts 

melting. However, due to the 

prolonged drought, this years' 

accumulated snow (glacier) had 

been significantly reduced. Two 

decades ago, snow melt started 

at the beginning of April, gradually 

increased during summer (May - 

July) and then gradually 

decreased in autumn (September - November). This pattern was well suited for domestic 

water requirements. In recent years, snow melt has started in late winter (February), 

increased considerably by the middle of the spring (April) - quite often resulting in floods - 

and then decreased by the middle of summer (June), when farmers need water to 

 Highlights : 

 Drinking and irrigation water shortages 

cause distress migration, disrupt livelihoods 

and increase tensions within communities. 

 Environmental degradation threatens water 

table levels, food security and livelihoods. 

 Wheat prices remain stable except in Kabul, 

where prices increased slightly, and 

Bamyan, where prices decreased. 

 Wage rate rises sharply in Bamyan in August. 

Highest wages in Bakhashan over the past 

three months 

 Diesel prices slightly increase, with sharper 

increases expected in/after September. 

 

Source: FEWS NET Afghanistan, Kabul Khairkhan 
irrigate the first, and more importantly, the second cropping seasons that take place in 

August, September and October. Nevertheless, areas with high elevations cultivate their 

first crop in the abovementioned months, which is the second cropping season for low 

altitude areas (the second season is the primary season in Afghanistan). Without proper 

water storage facilities, this climate shift can have significant adverse effects on Afghan 

livelihoods. 

An International Water Management Institution’s report estimates that Afghanistan has 

57 billion cubic meters (BCM) of potential water resources, of which 55 BCM is surface 

water and 20 BCM is underground-water. The annual volume of water used is estimated 

to be 20 BCM. Total groundwater extraction is estimated to be 3BCM, which will likely to 

increase to 8 BCM in the next 10 years due to a growing demand for water. 

Despite Afghanistan’s more favorable 

position compared to its neighbors Iran 

and Pakistan (see chart), it faces a clear 

danger of a serious water shortages 

(Qureshi June 2002). The shortage of water 

is the result of war inflicted damages to 

irrigation systems (46% of irrigation 

structures are damaged) and traditional 

irrigation systems (canals). Traditional 

system losses are responsible for 40% of 

total water waste and losses, which are 

attributable to poor management of 

water resources (Qureshi June 2002). 

Traditional canal management practices 

have collapsed and many canals are 

completely silted and breached. 

Afghanistan has only a few modern 

irrigation systems (intakes) that are 

seriously affected by war in comparison 

with traditional systems. Intakes are no 

longer operational, machinery has been looted and there is a serious lack of qualified 

professional staff to maintain the systems (Qureshi June 2002). 

A 2002 report of the International Water Management Institute reveals that surface water 

irrigation systems were able to support less then half of the 1980 area (2.8 million 

hectares). The good precipitation this year may have a positive affect in terms of the 

volume of water. 

More than 15% of Afghanistan’s irrigated land gets water from traditional underground 

systems such as karezes, springs and shallow wells. According to an International Water 

Management Institution estimate dated 2002, all traditional groundwater irrigation 

systems have shrunk or dried up completely. Sixty to 70% of the karezes are not in use and 

85% of shallow wells have dried up (Qureshi June 2002). In 2004, various reports confirmed 

the severity of drought and water shortages, particularly in the southwest and south 

regions of the country. Precipitation last year had a positive impact only on those 

karezes, springs and shallow wells located in upper valleys close to the mountain slopes 

or upstream water points (FEWS NET observation). 

 

0

1000

2000

3000

Value in 

Cubic Meter

Countries

The Annual Water Availabiity Per Capita 

Series1 2500 1400 1200

Afghanistan Iran Pakistan
 

Reports indicate that water is the major source of conflict in Afghanistan, especially 

between the upstream and downstream users. The relationship between users is more 

contentious where upstream users cultivate crops that require more water (e.g., rice). In 

the case of rice, some downstream users get no water at all, especially where these 

upstream users have political or military influence in the area. 

Rich Afghans often cope at the expense of 

poor Afghans. In order to alleviate the impact 

of water shortages, rich Afghans can afford 

to drill deep wells, which can have an 

adverse effect on karezes, springs and 

shallow wells located within the vicinity of 

their deep wells. The main beneficiaries of 

shallow wells, springs and karezes are ordinary 

Afghans who cannot afford the cost of boring 

deep wells (Najimi, Food Security in 

Afghanistan 20001). 

Source of Photo: UNEP, Post Conflict Environment Assessment 

A shortage of drinking water is very critical in both urban and rural areas of Afghanistan. 

It can lead to distress migration and conflicts between and within communities. 

According to an inter-ministerial report dated June 2004, the nearest collection point for 

water can located 12 km away from people’s houses. According to the International 

Water Management Institute 2002 estimate, every month the water table can fall 0.5 to 3 

m depending on its location. Fortunately, this year’s precipitation prevented further 

deterioration in water table. Water table deterioration can have serious negative 

Karez as a source of groundwater

Recharge Mother well

Open Channel

Maintenance

Wells

Water Bearing

Source: Dr. Saleh Keshawaz Presentation Stratum
consequences for Afghans, specifically for those who do not have the manpower or 

financial resources to dig their own deep wells. Security reports indicate that the major 

cause of tension among children is fighting over access to scarce water. These conflicts 

can evolve to include adults as well. 

Environmental degradation: 

Environmental degradation is one the main causes of natural disasters such as drought, 

floods, soil erosion and landslides. Natural disasters can be the result of man made 

disasters or human failures to act. 

In 1977, forested areas of Afghanistan were estimated at 1.3 million ha, or 2% of the total 

land area of Afghanistan. In the last three decades, forested areas have significantly 

reduced due to a strong and increasing demand for fuelwood, construction material 

and illegal logging (Qureshi June 2002). Illegal logging is the main cause of deforestation 

– estimated at 30,000 hectares annually according to International Water Management 

Institute (Qureshi June 2002) 

 

If this situation continues without proper conservation measures being put in place, 

desertification can become a major problem in Afghanistan in the near future (See the 

picture bellow). 

Source of Photo: United Nation Environment Program, Post Conflict Environment Assessment 

The potential for re-growth of forests and vegetation is seriously affected by heavy fuel 

wood collection, timber harvesting and overgrazing. Soil erosion due to the loss of 

protective vegetation cover is a serious threat. In addition, the United Nations 

Environment Program 2003 report notes that erosion and sedimentation is a critical issue. 

Due to a lack of stable water sources during drought periods, much of the natural 

vegetation of the Helmand basin has died. Much of the available tree resources have 

been collected for fuel as well. These trends have contributed to the soil erosion and the 

shifting of sand over roads, settlements and irrigated lands. Up to 100 villages have been 

submerged by wind blown dust and sands. This is true for the north of Afghanistan, as 

well, where sand dunes have been shifting towards agricultural land near the Amu 

Darya. In this particular area, dunes move up to one meter per year in the moderate 

winds (UNEP Afghanistan post conflict environment Assessment). Though moving sands 
are a normal occurrence in the desert (Registan), during the more recent drought years, 

due to vegetation losses, moving sands have become a serious threat to agriculture and 

people livelihoods. 

A United Nations Environment Program’s report indicates that pistachio woodlands have 

suffered extensive deforestation from 1977 to 2002. According to government forestry 

officers interviewed by UNEP, 50-70% of pistachio trees have been lost. Pre-war estimates 

of the density of pistachio woodlands ranged from 40 to 100 trees per hectare, while in 

2002, the density had decreased to the point where woodlands could no longer be 

detected by satellites. This situation suggests either complete pistachio deforestation or 

reduction in density to less than 40 trees per hectare (See the UNEP pictures below). 

 

Khuskah Kunah region 1977 Khuskah Kunah Region 2002 

Qala-i-Nau Region 1977 Qala-i-Nau Region 2002 

Farkhar Region 1977 Farkhar Region 2002 

 
Market Prices: 

Wheat prices are regularly collected and reported in Afghanis and dollars. In reporting 

dollar figures, different exchanges are applied for different regions or the country. FEWS 

NET Afghanistan reports market prices in Afghanis to avoid this undesirable exchange 

rate variation and to provide a clearer, more direct comparison of local prices. Diesel 

prices are included because of diesel makes a significant contribution to transportation 

costs that directly affects food market prices. 

In comparison to June 2005 wheat prices, the price in August 2005 is stable except in 

Kabul and Maimana, where there have been slight increases. The increase in wheat 

price in Kabul is likely to be the result of traders and businessmen’s fears of increasing 

insecurity in the southwest of the country associated with the September parliamentary 

elections. Kabul based businessmen tend to be more sensitive to political instability 

compared to those operating in other areas. In addition, the Bamyan market shows a 

slight decrease in the wheat price, which is likely the result of recent wheat harvests. Due 

to the high altitude of Bamyan, harvest took place later in the season - July and August. 

Wage rates in August as compared to June are slightly higher in Kabul, Hirat, Mazar, and 

Maimana. Bamyan experienced a sharp increase, Afs 30. An increase in the daily wage 

rate in Bamyan is the result of an increase in the demand for labor employed in the 

harvesting of crops. In the past three months, Badakhshan and Maimana have 

experienced the highest wage rates compared to those of the other six locations 

regularly monitored (see table below). The main reason for such a high wage rate in 

Badakhshan is the additional demand for labor in poppy cultivation (poppy is labor 

intensive). 

In comparison with diesel prices in June, diesel prices in August increased slightly in 

Kandahar, Nangarhar, Hirat, Mazar, Kabul, and Badakhshan. Bamyan diesel prices 

remained stable. Nevertheless, due to a global increase in the oil price, it is expected 

that the price of diesel in September will significantly increase. See the market price table 

below 

Jun-05 Jul-05 Aug-05 

Locations Wheat/Kg Diesel/L 

Labor 

Wage/day Wheat/Kg Diesel/L 

Labor 

Wage/day Wheat/Kg Diesel/L 

Labor 

Wage/day 

Kabul 12.4 25 170 12.9 24 178 13.3 26 180

Kandahar 11.2 23 150 10.3 24 150 10.8 25 150

Nangarhar 9.0 24.8 126.5 9.0 25.2 126.6 9.4 26.6 126.6

Hirat 10.8 23 151 10.1 24 159 10.0 25 160

Mazar 9.8 23 158 9.4 24 175 9.8 24 178

Faizabad 11.4 29 200 11.4 29 200 11.2 31 200

Bamian 12.1 28.2 150 12.1 27.5 180 10.8 28.3 185

Mainmana 10.5 24 200 10.0 25 200 11.4 26 220

The average exchange rate for July and August is Afs 49.90 to $1.

Contact Address: 

Fazal Karim Najimi Email: FKNajimi@chemonics.com Cell phone: 070 15 60 60 

Famine Early Warning System Network Funded by USAID 

Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development