The agricultural sector
46
Table 5.5 Households, by residence, and by ownership of garden plot, size of garden plot in percentages
Access to garden plot, size of garden plot Residence
Urban Rural
Kuchi National
No garden plot 97
87 97
89 With any garden plot, of whom
3 13
3 11
Less than 1.0 jerib 24
33 58
33 1.0-1.9 jerib
25 34
25 33
2.0-3.9 jerib 24
20 12
21 4.0-5.9 jerib
12 6
5 6
6.0-9.9 jerib 10
5 5
10.0 or more jerib 4
3 3
Total with garden plots 100
100 100
100
Total 100
100 100
100
Mean statistics Mean land size, all households
0.1 0.3
0.0 0.2
Median land size, all households 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 Mean land size, households owning garden plots
3.5 1.9
1.0 2.0
Median land size, households owning garden plots 2.0
1.0 0.5
1.0
Figure 5.4 Households engaged in agriculture who own or manage garden plots, by NRVA assessment, and by residence in percentages
5.3 Agricultural production
5.3.1 Crop production
Wheat is the main staple food in Afghanistan, as it accounts for around 70 percent of total cereal consumption. Normally, the country is not self-sufficient and has to import wheat to fulfill its food demand. Due to natural disasters and variable
climate conditions, wheat production fluctuates strongly. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock MAIL, average imports for the years 2000-04 accounted for 33 percent of total demand Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation
and Livestock 2009. For 2009 – an exceptional good year – the provisional estimated production for all cereals is 6.3 million tons, while requirements are 6.53 million tons, resulting in a deficit of 220 thousand tons see
Table 5.6 .
The agricultural sector
47
Table 5.6 Afghanistan food balance sheet 2009 in thousand tons
Crop Requirements
Domestic production
Surplus deficit
Food Seed
Feed Loss
Total All wheat, of which
4,175 319
761 5,255
5,064 -191
Irrigated wheat 201
-- 508
3,387 Rain-fed wheat
118 --
253 1,677
Milled rice 444
21 33
498 469
-29 Maize
52 8
195 45
300 300
-- Barley
26 29
353 72
480 480
--
Total 4,697
377 548
911 6,533
6,313 -220
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock 2009
Other cultivated grains include barley, maize, rice and pulses. Full series of agriculture production are provided by the Central Statistics Organisation CSO 2008. A condensed overview is presented in
Table 5.7. There are also several types of summer and winter vegetables and fruits, like potatoes, onions, tomatoes, okra, cauliflower, melons, water
melons, apricots, pomegranates, apples and grapes. Afghan grapes and watermelons are highly appreciated in other countries. Other significant agriculture exports although in decline are dried fruits and nuts mainly raisins pistachio,
almonds and apricots.
Table 5.7 Afghanistan, cereal production 2002-2009 in thousand tons
Crop 2002
2003 2004
2005 2006
2007 2008
2009 All wheat, of which
2,686 4,362
2,293 4,266
3,363 4,343
2,623 5,064
Irrigated wheat 2,110
3,017 1,867
2,728 2,604
2,878 2,406
3,387 Rain-fed wheat
576 1,345
426 1,538
759 1,465
217 1,677
Milled rice 260
291 310
325 361
425 410
469 Maize
298 310
234 315
359 360
280 300
Barley 345
410 220
337 364
370 333
480
Total 3,589
5,373 3,057
5,243 4,447
5,498 3,646
6,313
Source: FAOWFP CFSAM 2002-2004, MAIL 2005-2009
In the NRVA 20078 survey, the households were asked to identify and to rate the crops most frequently grown on their irrigated land in summer. Overall, the households responded that the most important crops were wheat, opium and
potatoes Table 5.8, panel a. The crops that were mentioned as second most important crops were afalfa, barley and
wheat. Those mentioned as the third most important crops were alfalfa, potatoes and other vegetables. This overall crop portfolio contributes to food security, forage for livestock production, and cash for the Afghan households. The most
important crops in the winter season are maizesorghum, rice and cotton panel b. Overall 59 percent of households engaged in agriculture are cultivating winter wheat and only 7 percent grow rice across the country. On rain-fed land by
far the most popular harvested crop was wheat 94 percent; panel c.
5.3.2 Opium production
The relative importance of opium production on irrigated land in summertime warrants special attention. Afghanistan was the largest opium producer in the world up to late 1990s, producing up to 70 percent of illicit opium or its derivate
heroin. Southern and eastern parts of the country were the main areas of production. The Taliban ban on opium spread the opium cultivation to northern parts of the country.
