Afghan farmers, especially in Ghazni Province, report sharp declines in crop yields and quality amid a deepening drought, with some apple orchards falling from 5,600 kg to 2,100 kg. Falling prices are compounding economic pain for growers in a country where over 80% depend on agriculture. The story is part of a global pattern of climate-driven crop damage and rising food costs, prompting calls for infrastructure, hardier crop varieties and actions to slow warming.
Afghan Farmers Sound Alarm As Drought Slashes Yields and Prices
Farmers across Afghanistan are reporting severe local impacts from a worsening drought that has devastated key crops, sharply reduced harvests and driven down market prices.
Local Devastation in Ghazni Province
Growers and orchard owners in Ghazni Province told Pajhwok Afghan News that this year’s drought cut apple harvests dramatically and left many remaining crops vulnerable to disease. One farmer said his orchard yield fell from 5,600 kilograms last year to just 2,100 kilograms this year. Another grower, Zabiullah, described both lower yields and collapsing prices: seven kilograms of apples that formerly fetched 200 afghanis now sell for about 40 afghanis.
Economic and Food-Security Impacts
More than 80% of Afghans rely on agriculture as their main source of income, making reduced harvests a serious threat to livelihoods and local food security. Poor harvests also create supply shortages that push up consumer prices and strain household budgets.
Global Pattern of Climate-Driven Crop Damage
Afghanistan’s losses reflect a wider trend: extreme weather linked to a warming climate is harming crops in many regions. Recent examples include damage to vegetable fields in Bangladesh and an expected roughly 50% drop in India’s grape harvest this year due to adverse weather. Olive shortages tied to Mediterranean droughts and heatwaves have also contributed to recent spikes in olive oil prices.
Responses: Infrastructure, Research, and Emissions Reductions
Local farmers are urging government action on water infrastructure, such as dams and improved irrigation, to reduce the immediate risk from drought. At the same time, researchers are breeding and testing hardier crop varieties — from drought-tolerant melons and heat-resistant apples to so-called "super potatoes" designed to withstand a range of climate stresses.
Zabiullah: Crop yields and quality have declined due to the dry spell, and falling prices are compounding the hardship for growers.
Experts emphasize that technological and infrastructure measures must be paired with efforts to slow global warming. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions — through policies and individual choices such as walking, cycling, using public transit or switching to electric vehicles where feasible — will help limit the frequency and severity of droughts and extreme weather over time.
What Farmers Want: Immediate water-management investments, access to disease control and seed varieties suited to hotter, drier conditions, and financial support to bridge income shortfalls in bad seasons.
