Which way forward for food security in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan has been the focus of international relief and aid efforts for over ten years. Many of these efforts have been short term and focused on responding to crises. Recently, donors have emphasised the need for long-term planning in agriculture and food security. What can be done to support food security in Afghanistan?

Research from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization analyses recent strategies and policy papers for agriculture, rural development and food security. The researchers aimed to identify the challenges of developing an effective, long-term food security strategy.

Each agricultural and donor agency working in Afghanistan has its own policy on agricultural development. Also, each agency has a different view of the issues around food security, such as agricultural production and social protection, and each proposes different strategies for these issues. However, few mention food security explicitly.

Some agencies view agricultural development as the best way to reduce poverty and encourage economic growth, because 80 percent of Afghans live in rural areas and pursue agricultural livelihoods. Others argue that increasing agricultural production is not enough, because most rural livelihoods are complex and diverse.

The lack of information about agricultural livelihoods is a serious problem, but results from the few surveys carried out suggest that most rural households do not meet their food needs through agriculture alone. Off-farm income, remittances from migrants, wages and informal credit are all important sources of income for farmers. Many farmers also grow opium poppies, which can be sold for the drugs trade.

The research shows:

• National agricultural strategies tend to be based on a simplified understanding of the complexity of rural household.
• They also tend to avoid issues about how can policymakers address possible trade-offs amongst policy objectives.
• International strategies all call for land policies and regulation of these, but do not consider the complexity of customary rights in Afghanistan.
• An agricultural policy that does not consider land distribution and access may only benefit a few richer farmers.

The lack of clear food security strategies is not only due to the complex political, aid and security situation, but also due to a lack of survey data and short-term perspectives within the aid community. The researchers recommend that policymakers:

• consider whether scarce investment resources should prioritise staple food crops for domestic use or cash crops for export
• improve surveillance, monitoring and early warning systems for food security as a priority – this will require long-term funding and technical support
• assign clear responsibilities between donors and the government about who will do what
• draft a national strategy for food security that sets policy priorities, has clear time-bound targets, and addresses the constraints and trade-offs to implementing the suggested actions.

Source(s):
'Towards a Framework for Agricultural Development and Food Security in Afghanistan' by Alberto Zezza and Mauro Migotto, in 'Reconstructing Agriculture in Afghanistan,' London: Practical Action Publishing, edited by Adam Pain and Jacky Sutton, 2008

Funded by: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

id21 Research Highlight: 24 March 2008

Further Information:
Mauro Migotto
Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation
2 rue André Pascal
75775 Paris Cedex 16
France

Contact the contributor: mauromigotto@hotmail.com

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

Other related links:
id 21 insights 66 'Retaining legitimacy in fragile states'

'Supporting livelihoods through agricultural rehabilitation'

'Rebuilding health services in post-Taliban Afghanistan'