25/08/2026
World Water Week: Afghanistan at a Critical Crossroads of Water, Climate Change and Agriculture
By Mohib Hotak, Responsible for Arya Subhan Trading Company
Water is not simply a basic necessity for life; it is the foundation of agriculture, food security, livelihoods and economic stability in Afghanistan. World Water Week provides an important opportunity to draw global attention to Afghanistan’s growing water crisis, the impacts of climate change, prolonged drought and the serious economic challenges facing Afghan farmers.
Afghanistan is highly dependent on agriculture. Millions of families rely directly or indirectly on farming, livestock and agricultural production for their livelihoods. However, drought, declining water availability, changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures and increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions are placing unprecedented pressure on farmers and agricultural communities.
Afghanistan has already experienced severe droughts. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the 2018 drought affected more than two-thirds of Afghanistan and severely affected around 10.5 million people. FAO’s drought-risk assessments have also warned that climate change could make droughts more severe, longer-lasting and more frequent.
Climate Change Is Already Affecting Afghan Farmers
Climate change is no longer a distant threat for Afghanistan. Its consequences are already visible in agricultural fields and orchards across the country.
Reduced rainfall, higher temperatures, increased evaporation, declining river flows and water shortages are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to maintain their crops and orchards. FAO assessments have identified increased soil evaporation, reduced river flows and less frequent rainfall as important factors contributing to crop failures and land degradation in Afghanistan.
For many Afghan farmers, an orchard represents years of investment, hard work and hope for the future. When water disappears, the damage is not limited to one agricultural season. Farmers can lose entire orchards, household income and the economic security of their families.
This is particularly concerning in drought-prone agricultural regions, where fruit orchards are among the most important sources of rural income.
Water Management Must Become a National and International Priority
Afghanistan does not only need more water; it needs better water management.
Efficient irrigation systems, water storage infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, rehabilitation of traditional irrigation systems and modern water-saving technologies can play a major role in helping farmers adapt to climate change.
Drip irrigation and other efficient irrigation technologies can help farmers use available water more carefully and improve agricultural productivity. However, farmers often cannot afford the initial investment because of their existing economic difficulties.
Therefore, international development organizations and financial institutions should consider supporting water-efficient agricultural technologies as part of their climate adaptation and food-security programs.
A Call to the International Community
On World Water Week, we respectfully call upon the United Nations, FAO, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, international development agencies, donor countries and humanitarian organizations to give greater attention to Afghanistan’s interconnected challenges of water scarcity, climate change and agriculture.
Afghanistan needs long-term and practical investment—not only emergency assistance.
We call for:
1. Investment in water infrastructure:
Support for water reservoirs, check dams, irrigation canals, rainwater harvesting systems, groundwater recharge and other sustainable water-management infrastructure.
2. Support for water-efficient irrigation:
Greater investment in drip irrigation, efficient irrigation technologies and modern water-management systems that can help farmers produce more with less water.
3. Assistance for drought-affected farmers:
Farmers who have lost crops and orchards because of drought need financial, technical and agricultural support to rebuild their livelihoods.
4. Climate-resilient agriculture:
Support for drought-resistant crops, improved planting materials, modern orchard management, soil conservation and climate-smart agricultural practices.
5. Restoration of damaged orchards:
Special programs should be developed to rehabilitate orchards damaged or destroyed by drought, particularly in highly vulnerable agricultural regions.
6. Long-term climate adaptation programs:
Afghanistan should not be treated only as a country requiring emergency assistance. It needs long-term programs that strengthen agricultural resilience, improve water security and help rural communities adapt to climate change.
7. Stronger economic opportunities for farmers:
Water security alone is not enough. Farmers also need access to markets, agricultural processing, storage facilities, finance and better opportunities to sell their products.
Afghan Farmers Need Partnership, Not Only Assistance
Afghan farmers do not want to remain dependent on humanitarian assistance. They want the opportunity to invest, produce, earn a sustainable income and build a secure future for their families.
The international community can play a transformative role by combining humanitarian assistance with long-term investment in agriculture, water management and climate adaptation.
Afghanistan has significant agricultural potential. With appropriate water management, modern irrigation technologies, technical support and sustainable investment, this potential can contribute to food security, employment and economic development.
Our Message on World Water Week
World Water Week should not only be a week of discussions and conferences. It should also be a moment for practical action.
The international community must listen to the voice of the Afghan farmer whose orchard is drying because of water scarcity.
Every tree that dies because of drought represents years of investment lost. Every farmer who abandons his land represents a loss to Afghanistan’s agricultural economy. And every drop of water that is wasted today can become a serious problem tomorrow.
We therefore call for Afghanistan’s water, agriculture and climate challenges to receive greater international attention and long-term investment.
Water security is agricultural security.
Agricultural security is food security.
And food security is the foundation of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Let us save water, protect farmers, strengthen agriculture and build a climate-resilient future for Afghanistan.
Mohib Hotak
CALL : +93 711112014
Responsible – Arya Subhan Trading Company
Afghanistan
