Half of Afghanistan’s Arable Land Left Uncultivated Due to Water Shortages, Says Taliban

The Taliban’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs has attributed severe water shortages and a lack of resources in rural areas as the primary drivers behind migration from villages to cities.

The office has reported that half of Afghanistan’s arable land remains unused due to insufficient water supplies.

On Wednesday, the office published a report titled “The Shah wa Arus Dam: A Significant Step in Agricultural Development,” which highlights the detrimental impact of climate change on water availability and agricultural land. The report underscores the critical need for constructing dams and implementing effective water management systems to address these challenges.

The Taliban emphasised that building dams would not only enhance agricultural productivity but also serve as a significant step towards generating electricity. Afghanistan currently produces only 20% of its electricity needs domestically, relying heavily on imports from neighbouring countries. The report stressed the urgent necessity of increasing domestic power generation capacity through dam construction.

In addition to addressing water scarcity, the Taliban highlighted the role of dams in mitigating natural disasters. Afghanistan, one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, has experienced a series of severe droughts, floods, and the destruction of homes and farmland in recent years.

The report also raised concerns about the future of wheat cultivation in Afghanistan, predicting below-average yields due to adverse weather conditions. Above-average temperatures are expected to disrupt groundwater supplies needed for spring planting, while colder-than-anticipated weather could further hinder crop growth.

The Taliban’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs argued that investment in dams and water management systems could help alleviate these challenges. It stated that such initiatives would improve agricultural production, create employment opportunities in rural communities, and reduce migration from villages to urban centres.