The Plight Of Food Security In Afghanistan: A Nation's Struggle For Self-Sufficiency

Afghanistan is facing a severe food crisis, with a third of the population facing acute hunger and the country being pushed deeper into a food security crisis. The country's ability to feed itself has been impacted by conflict, climate change, and COVID-19. The war in Afghanistan has exacerbated the impacts of climate change, with more frequent droughts and poor harvests. The conflict has also consumed resources and attention, leaving people without income and nourishment, as well as disrupting the planting of crops. Climate change has caused spring rains to decline, especially in important farmland, and rising temperatures have affected the country twice as much as the global average. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the food crisis, with lockdown measures impacting income-generating activities and the ability to buy food. Afghanistan's high poverty rate, with over 50% of the population living under the national poverty line, has further exacerbated the issue. The country's heavy reliance on agriculture, with nearly 70% of Afghans dependent on it, makes the situation even more challenging.

The impact of conflict on food security

Afghanistan has been struggling with food insecurity for years, with the ongoing conflict in the country being a major contributing factor. The war between the Taliban and the United States, along with the Afghan Northern Alliance, has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths and intensified issues of food insecurity, poverty, and poor sanitation. The conflict has also led to Afghanistan's isolation from the global economy, leaving agriculture as the main source of livelihood for nearly 70% of Afghans.

Secondly, the conflict has obstructed access to markets, further impacting food security. Afghanistan's agricultural sector, which is predominantly subsistence-based, relies on markets to sell their produce and purchase necessary supplies. However, the ongoing conflict has made it difficult for farmers to safely transport their goods to market, disrupting the supply chain and limiting their income. This reduced income then translates into decreased purchasing power, making it harder for families to afford food, especially nutritious options.

Additionally, the conflict has directly impacted farmland and crops. War, along with natural disasters such as droughts and floods, has destroyed farmland, leaving people without the means to grow their own food or generate income from their harvests. The destruction of crops exacerbates food insecurity, as the availability of food decreases, and the displaced populations struggle to find alternative sources of nourishment.

The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has also contributed to the country's inability to address the impacts of climate change. Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with parts of the country warming at twice the global average rate. The conflict diverts attention and resources away from adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change, such as declining spring rains and more frequent droughts, which directly affect agricultural productivity.

The combination of conflict and climate change has created a devastating feedback loop, exacerbating food insecurity and making it increasingly difficult for Afghans to access sufficient, nutritious food. The impact of the conflict on food security is widespread, affecting all aspects of the food system, from production and supply chains to household purchasing power and nutritional outcomes.

Addressing food insecurity in Afghanistan requires a multifaceted approach that targets the root causes, including the ongoing conflict, the impacts of climate change, and the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to this complex issue.

Climate change and environmental factors

Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change and is one of the least equipped to manage its impact. The country's climate is continental, with temperatures ranging from 30°C in summer to -20°C in winter. Spring rains have declined, and droughts are becoming more frequent in large swathes of the country. Parts of Afghanistan have warmed twice as much as the global average, with temperatures rising by 1.8°C since 1950. This has had far-reaching impacts on the country, affecting natural disasters, conflict, agricultural dependency, and socio-economic hardship.

The combination of infrequent earthquakes and climate-related disasters such as floods, flash floods, avalanches, and heavy snowfalls affect over 200,000 people every year, causing loss of life, livelihood, and property. Climate change has also exacerbated the frequency and intensity of droughts in Afghanistan, with the country experiencing its worst drought in decades between 2018 and 2019. This drought affected 22 out of 34 Afghan provinces, causing major population displacement as people could not feed themselves. The drought destroyed crops, and the majority of Afghans, who rely on subsistence agriculture, struggled to access markets.

Afghanistan's hot, dry summers pose chronic challenges to agriculture, and the receding water table will further impact the human population. Harsh weather makes transportation between towns difficult, and extreme weather and conflict force families to flee their homes. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including floods, which have already caused significant damage to infrastructure and crops, contributing to food insecurity.

The country's limited natural freshwater resources and inadequate access to potable water are also exacerbated by climate change. The basin of the Kunduz River has seen a 30% decrease in precipitation since the 1960s, and almost 14% of Afghanistan's glacier coverage was lost between 1990 and 2015. The number of glaciers and glacial lakes is currently increasing, possibly due to the breaking up of larger glaciers. As a result, mountainous regions such as the Amu Darya source area are at high risk of glacial lake outburst floods.

In addition to the direct impacts of climate change on Afghanistan's environment and natural resources, the country's dependence on agriculture further compounds the issue. Agriculture contributes significantly to Afghanistan's Gross Domestic Product, and approximately 85% of Afghans depend on rain-fed agriculture and agribusiness for their livelihoods. Climate change-induced disasters, such as droughts and floods, destroy crops and farmland, obstruct markets, and leave people without income and nourishment.

The role of international aid

Afghanistan's economy has been in a state of flux since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with the country losing access to the international banking system and offshore foreign exchange reserves. The economy contracted by 20.7% in 2021 and a further 6.2% in 2022. The country's economic outlook remains uncertain, with the threat of stagnation looming until at least 2025.

International aid has played a critical role in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, a country that has been ravaged by conflict, drought, and natural disasters. The World Bank, in coordination with development partners and the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF) donors, has provided over $1.7 billion in support since August 2021. This aid has been directed towards critical health, education, food security, and livelihood services.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has also been instrumental in providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. They have facilitated working capital advances for Afghan businesses, helped create jobs, and supported apprenticeship programs to address unemployment, particularly among women. USAID has also provided emergency food and nutrition assistance, healthcare services, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support to at-risk populations.

However, the delivery of international aid in Afghanistan has faced significant challenges. There have been concerns about the inadequate levels of aid, with Afghanistan receiving a lower proportion of aid per capita compared to other post-conflict nations. The complex political and security situation has also hindered aid operations, with Taliban restrictions obstructing the work of aid organizations and limiting women's access to humanitarian assistance.

Moreover, there is a growing instrumentalization of aid by political and military actors, leading to concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of aid efforts. It is argued that aid should be distributed based on the needs of the most vulnerable people, rather than being tied to military criteria. The involvement of military forces in aid delivery has also been criticized for its potential negative impact on the reputation and neutrality of humanitarian agencies.

Despite these challenges, international aid remains crucial for Afghanistan's long-term growth and poverty reduction. Strategic investments in agriculture, particularly in irrigation infrastructure, land tenure security, research, and market access, could help boost agricultural productivity and create jobs. Additionally, addressing the underlying issues of corruption, weak institutions, and human rights abuses is essential for sustainable progress.

Malnutrition and its consequences

Malnutrition is a common condition, affecting billions of people worldwide. It is a leading cause of child deaths globally, and it has serious and lasting impacts on individuals, families, communities, and countries. Malnutrition can stunt children's growth and development, hinder brain development, and cause developmental impairments. It also affects the function and recovery of every organ system, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates.

Malnutrition refers to an imbalance in a person's nutrient intake, which can manifest as undernutrition or overnutrition. Undernutrition is the most commonly understood form of malnutrition, where the body does not get enough food or essential nutrients. This can lead to weight loss, reduced appetite, tiredness, irritability, and a higher risk of infection. Micronutrient undernutrition, specifically, can cause vitamin A deficiency, leading to vision problems, and zinc deficiency, resulting in loss of appetite, stunted growth, hair loss, and diarrhoea.

On the other hand, overnutrition occurs when a person consumes more nutrients than their body needs. This often results in overweight or obesity and can lead to chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

In Afghanistan, malnutrition is a significant issue, with the country facing one of the world's highest rates of stunting in children under five. The rate of wasting, an extreme form of severe acute malnutrition, is also extremely high. This is largely due to children eating the wrong types of food and not getting enough nourishment. Additionally, mothers are equally malnourished, creating an intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

The consequences of malnutrition in Afghanistan are dire. It blunts the intellect, saps productivity, and perpetuates poverty. Malnourished children are more likely to contract diseases, less likely to receive basic healthcare, and perform poorly in school. The effects of malnutrition can also be long-lasting, with some consequences, such as blindness from vitamin A deficiency or soft bones from vitamin D deficiency, being irreversible.

Therefore, addressing malnutrition in Afghanistan is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty and improving the health and well-being of its citizens.

The transition to imported food

Afghanistan has had to transition to importing much of its food from Pakistan. This is a result of the greater profits found in the illegal drug market and the smuggling trade, which have cut heavily into traditional agriculture and food production.

In the past, most of the cultivated land was planted with cereals, with wheat as the chief crop. Other food grains customarily planted were corn (maize), rice, and barley. Cotton was also important, both for a domestic textile industry and for export. Fruits and nuts have also been important export items.

However, the shift towards the illegal drug market has changed this. Opium poppy cultivation has been widespread since the 1990s, and Afghanistan now provides over 90% of the world's illicit opium. This has had a devastating impact on food production and security in the country. The profits from poppy cultivation have drawn many farmers away from growing traditional food crops, and the country now has to import much of its food. This transition has disrupted the country's food system and contributed to the food insecurity that many Afghans face.

The situation is further exacerbated by other factors such as conflict, drought, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have all taken a toll on the country's ability to produce and access food. Afghanistan's food insecurity is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences for its people, particularly women and children, who are often the most vulnerable in times of crisis.

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