17 January 2023, Jalalabad Province, Afghanistan - Close-up view of newly grown wheat in the Kama district, funded by Asian Development Bank.
Background information
1 100 households in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province received certified wheat seed, fertilizers and training last autumn in time for the country's major wheat cultivation season. Each farmer received 50 kg wheat seed, 50 kg urea and 50 kg DAP as well as specific technical training on good wheat cultivation practices. In January, the wheat fields had turned green and wheat growth was looking great at germination stage.The high-quality, locally-adapted, drought-resistant certified seed, funded by the Asian Development Bank, will enable farmers in Nangarhar and across the country to produce increased harvest. The 50 kg certified seed cultivated on 0.4 ha, with proper application of fertilizers, will produce up to 1.4 tonnes of crop. This is enough to cover the cereal needs of a family of seven for one year as well as make a surplus that the farmers can sell to generate income for other family needs. Farmers will also keep some wheat for the next cultivation season.