KABUL (Pajhwok): Richard Trenchard, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Afghanistan, highlighted the growing impact of climate change on the country’s agricultural sector, as farmers struggle with recurring droughts, unpredictable weather and severe water shortages.
In response to these challenges, the FAO is working to bolster Afghan farmers through initiatives focused on resilience, sustainable farming, and environmental preservation, ensuring that Afghan agriculture not only survives but thrives in a changing climate.
In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Richard Trenchard provided in-depth insights into the ongoing climate crisis and the FAO’s strategic response to support Afghan farmers.
Afghanistan’s agriculture sector—long the backbone of its economy and livelihoods—is facing one of its greatest threats: climate change. Increasingly erratic weather patterns, rising temperatures, and diminishing water sources are disrupting farming systems that have sustained communities for centuries.
Changing climate, rising risks
Agriculture in Afghanistan has always been deeply tied to the seasons, but the predictability that once defined the country’s farming calendar is vanishing. “What we’re seeing is that those weather patterns are changing,” said Trenchard. “Droughts used to come every 10 or 15 years. Now, they come every two to three years.”
In 2021 and 2022, and again in 2024, large parts of the country suffered devastating droughts. Rain-fed farming has been particularly hard-hit, and groundwater levels are plummeting due to overreliance as surface water supplies dwindle. The result? Crops are failing, livestock are undernourished, and food security is under threat across provinces.
FAO’s multi-layered response
According to Trenchard, the FAO’s work in Afghanistan is broad and multi-faceted, guided by three key pillars: emergency humanitarian response, resilience-building, and long-term adaptation to climate change.
In emergencies, FAO provides critical support—improved seeds, livestock feed, and veterinary services. “We’ve been vaccinating more than six million animals over the past two years alone,” said Trenchard. This work is vital in preventing the spread of diseases like foot and mouth, lumpy skin, and PPR.
Meanwhile, resilience efforts focus on strengthening the foundations of agriculture. FAO is helping communities construct check dams and restore irrigation infrastructure to better manage water and prevent flash floods.
Additionally, farmers are being introduced to climate-resilient seeds and better crop diversification strategies.
For long-term adaptation, FAO has partnered with global climate finance bodies like the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support environmental preservation, pasture protection, and introduction of sustainable farming practices.
Farmers’ mental health
Beyond the physical damage, the emotional toll on farmers is immense. Trenchard described heartbreaking scenes of farmers harvesting only a handful of wheat stalks in fields where crops had failed.
“It can be devastating,” he said. “When your livelihood, your family’s well-being, your whole identity is tied to the land, and that land fails you—it causes deep psychological distress.”
Though FAO does not offer direct mental health support, Trenchard noted that successful farming outcomes can restore hope. “I saw the joy on a young farmer’s face in Kunduz when he realized he had enough wheat for the entire year, thanks to FAO’s certified seeds,” he recalled. “That sense of security is a powerful form of psychological relief.”
Mechanisation
Mechanisation remains limited across most of Afghanistan, largely due to cost. FAO doesn’t directly supply tractors but is working to make agriculture more investment-worthy for the private sector. “We are creating conditions where mechanisation makes economic sense,” said Trenchard. “You need irrigation systems, crop diversity, and market access—then businesses will see the value in investing.”
The organisation also encourages the use of new technologies, such as drip irrigation and cold storage systems, to improve efficiency and post-harvest management.
Private sector: A key player for sustainability
With international aid decreasing—especially from countries like the U.S.—the private sector is now seen as vital to the future of Afghan agriculture. “We’ve always known that Afghanistan’s farming systems should become self-sustaining,” said Trenchard. “The private sector will be the long-term engine for that transformation.”
He urged Afghan investors to explore agriculture’s untapped potential. “There are huge returns to be made—not just for profit, but for the country’s prosperity,” he said. “Whether it’s pistachios, almonds, or pomegranates, Afghan products can lead in regional and global markets.”
Challenges: Funding, frequency of shocks
Trenchard cited three major challenges: the increasing frequency of climate shocks, limited funding for long-term climate projects, and overreliance on short-term humanitarian assistance. “It’s very difficult to help communities adapt when they’re constantly hit by one disaster after another—drought, flood, disease,” he said.
Despite donor generosity, most funding has gone to immediate needs. FAO is advocating for a pivot toward medium- and long-term investment, both from international partners and the Afghan government.
Strengthening national capacity
FAO is also working closely with Afghanistan’s institutions. The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) recently issued the country’s first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) report in five years—a vital framework for climate policy. Coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), and the Ministry of Energy and Water is key to ensuring nationwide adaptation.
Afghan farmers
Having worked in several countries, Trenchard had a special message for Afghan farmers: “You are among the most resilient and hardworking people I’ve ever met. You are the backbone of Afghanistan—its economy, its heritage, its future. We at FAO will continue to stand by you to ensure better production, better nutrition, and better lives.”
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