Afghanistan

Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN is a landlocked country surrounded by Iran, Pakistan, and the Central Asian Republics. It consists of highland plains separated by mountains. Afghanistan is largely dry and rocky, with some fertile lowlands where rice and other grains, as well as cotton and fruits, are grown. Agricultural activities make up more than half the GDP, although only about 12% of the country is arable. Deforestation has increased rapidly, leading to desertification; potable water is scarce. The main population centers are in eastern valleys.

General information

Main food consumed: wheat, maize, rice, oil and fat, and meat
Rice consumption, 1999:16.7 kg milled rice per person per year

Production season
	Planting	Harvesting
Main season	Apr-Jun	Oct-Nov

Production constraints
Rice production in the country has suffered from the unstable security conditions. Rice yields are still low. If security conditions improve, rice production could be substantially increased by

Introducing/developing and adopting high-yielding varieties, which are tolerant of low temperature and blast
Improving input and credit supply systems
Strengthening research and extension services

Basic statistics, Afghanistan
	1985	1990	1995	1998	1999	2000
Rice
Area harvested (ha)	141,000	175,000	170,000	180,000	140,000	130,000
Yield (t/ha)	2.2	1.9	1.8	2.5	3.0	1.8
Production (t)	317,000	333,000	300,000	450,000	420,000	232,800
Rice imports (t)	na	na	na	78,000	106,000	na
Others
Population, total (x10³)	14,519	14,755	19,663	21,354	21,923	na
Population, agriculture (x10³)	10,376	10,376	13,507	14,451	14,762	na
Agricultural area (x10³ ha)	38,054	38,054	38,054	38,054	na	na
Irrigated agricultural area (x10³ ha)	2,586	2,500	2,386	2,386	na	na
Total fertilizer consumption (t)	72,962	44,500	0	5,000	na	na
Tractors used in agric. (no.)	820	850	840	840	na	na
Source: FAOSTAT online database.

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Afghanistan