Climate Change Reduces Agricultural Output in Northern Afghanistan

DID Press: Farmers in northern Afghanistan say rising temperatures, irregular rainfall and the broader effects of climate change have significantly reduced crop yields and caused heavy financial losses.

Farmers say extreme heat and shifting rainfall patterns have contributed to the spread of crop pests and plant diseases while increasing production costs.Experts warn that higher temperatures can weaken plants’ natural resilience and create more favorable conditions for pests and disease-causing organisms to spread.

They say the continuation of current climate trends could pose a serious threat to agricultural production across many parts of Afghanistan.Climate change in Afghanistan is not limited to rising average temperatures.

It has also disrupted rainfall patterns, with intense downpours, prolonged droughts and unprecedented heat waves affecting planting and growing seasons.According to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), drought and water shortages remain among the country’s most significant climate-related threats, affecting more than half of Afghanistan’s population.

Data from the Taliban-run National Disaster Management Authority show that more than 32,000 jeribs of agricultural land have been damaged or completely destroyed by natural disasters during the past three months.