Afghanistan: Drought Situation in the Provinces of Balkh, Juzjan and Faryab

The three provinces of Balkh, Juzjan and Faryab are situated in north and north-western Afghanistan. The weather of these provinces is almost alike, the winters are cold and summers are hot. The temperature during the summer usually reaches 43-degree centigrade. In the winter the temperature drops below zero. Usually there are heavy snowfalls in the winter and moderate rainfalls in the springtime.
The crop, fruit and vegetable production in these provinces, as in other provinces of Afghanistan, are habitual to receive rainfall during spring season. Otherwise even with the availability of irrigation water, the production quantity will be reduced and its quality will be very low.

Inhabitants of these provinces are mostly engaged in animal husbandry and agriculture. The animals are usually sheep (Karaqul, Turkey and Qataghani), goats, camels, horses and etc. Their agriculture includes cereal crops vegetables and fruits. Most of the cereal crops, melons and watermelons are cultivated in rain- fed agricultural lands. Surplus of cereal products, especially wheat, are transported and marketed to other provinces.

Drought Situation:

Since past four years there had been less rain -fall and snow -fall in these provinces. This has resulted to a decrease in river flow and ground water and thus less water available for irrigation. The rain-fed area and pastureland also has received little amount of rainfall, threatening the production security of both agriculture and livestock sectors.

This year a severe drought situation is governing as else where in northern Afghanistan. The temperature of the provinces has risen substantially than normal. Scarce spring rainfall together with un-seasonally high temperature has resulted a major drought. The drought has caused a significant reduction in crop production, specifically in rain-fed wheat and other cereal crops and quality of the fruits.

The water level in the rivers has gone down significantly. This is due to less snowfall in highlands and drying-up of springs feeding the rivers and canals. Moreover little seasonal rainfall has occurred and consequently there have been no floods in the area. The farmers usually use these floodwater as their first irrigation.

The livestock has been affected badly from this year drought. The pasturelands are dried up and livestock owners cannot afford to keep their animals. Mostly the livestock in the area are drinking water from water reservoirs (Kanda) dug by the animal owners to collect rainfall water in the springtime. Nowadays these reservoirs are empty due to shortage of rainfall.

The drought in these provinces has negative impact on overall economical situation of the inhabitants of the area. The people of the area had already fragile living standard before drought and did not have purchasing capacity of livelihood requirements. The drought has made the situation worsen and further shattered the economy of the people.

Drought Situation in each of the three provinces is analyzed as following:

1. Balkh Province:

Balkh province consists of Balkh, Charbulak, Sholagra, Daulatabad, Nahri Shahi, Chimtal Shoortipa, Charkent and Mazar Shrif districts. Except Charkent the canals are fed from Chashma Shafa river that irrigates all other districts. In normal situation the water of the canals is not sufficient to irrigate the agricultural lands of the districts. Most of the population of these districts uses water of these canals as their drinking water as well. In some districts water is supplied through shallow and deep wells.

The drought has already hit almost all the districts except Sholgra valley. Chashma Shafa river irrigates this valley while passing it and then divides into eighteen branches supplying the water to other areas. Therefore, Sholgra people utilizes unlimited water for their irrigation.

Since Balkh province practice both irrigation as well as rain-fed agriculture and the amount of water flowing in Chashma Shafa river is not sufficient therefore a vast area is cultivated through rain-fed practice.

This year the water level in the river has gone down, rainfall has been very scarce and the temperature has risen un-seasonally. The position of ground water is also lowered down, most of the shallow wells are dried up. The traditional reservoirs (Kanda) dug by the people for collection of water are also dried up.

Seasonal temperature has increased than in normal years. This has resulted the season to be advanced around two months. The fruits and vegetables, which usually come to the market in month of July, have already been ripened and marketed.

Usually the rain-fed wheat production is the major part of wheat produced in the area. But this year the yield of the rain-fed wheat almost approaches nil. The wheat production from irrigated land also has been reduced substantially. In some places harvesting has already been started, but very less amount of wheat is produced.

Due to shortage of water and green pasture for livestock there has been heavy loss of animals in the province. The livestock owners sell their animals in very low prices, which has caused a decrease in meat price at the market. Break up of some diseases among animals are also reported, which cause further loss.

Displacement of people from highlands to the cities and towns continues, but so far displacement from Mazar-e-Shrif to other areas has not been observed. Only youngsters leave the area to find employment and provide livelihood for their families.

The prices list of some essential commodities in Mazar and its surrounding areas is as follows:

2. Juzjan Province:

Juzjan province consists of Aqcha, Mordian,Faizabad, Mangajek, Qarqeen, Khanaqa, Khamyab and Sheberghan districts . Most of the districts ( Mordian, Aqcha, Mangajek and Faizabad ) are irrigated from Chashma Shafa river. In the normal situation the water of the Chashma Shafa river is not sufficient to irrigate the land of the districts. The other districts utilize the water flowing from Sar-e-Pul river and other rivers.

The water of Chashma Shafa river after distribution to 18 canals of Balkh province reaches Juzjan in a very little amount. This year the water in this river is not even sufficient for Balkh province and nothing is left to flow for Juzjan. Only for a short period in May ,2000 the authorities in Balkh provided some water for Juzjan districts by closing the intakes of Balkh canals.

The river water is used for drinking and household purposes as well. In some places deep and shallow wells are used for the same purposes. The water level in shallow wells has fallen down and in some places these wells are already dried.

The inhabitants are engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and handicraft using livestock by-products. These are their main source of livelihood. Carpet production in this province is very prominent.

Most part of agriculture especially cereal crop is produced in the rain-fed cultivation. Due to continuous shortage of rain and snowfalls the agricultural production is very badly hit. Both rain-fed and irrigated land have not received sufficient water during the past three, four years. The reduction of agricultural production of this year is very severe due to the drought. Practically there is no yield from rain-fed land. Irrigated land also has provided very low yield with bad quality.

Due to rise in temperature, summer has begun two months in advance in this province. Like in Balkh province here also the fruits and vegetables are already ripened and because of water scarcity their quality is very low.

The pasturelands in the province are almost dried and as in Balkh province the traditional reservoirs (Kanda) are empty. These two factors have resulted in loss of many livestock or forcible sale of their animals in very low prices.

There are movement of people from highlands to the cities and towns of the province. No significant displacement to other provinces are noticed so far.

Price of essential commodities:

3. Faryab Province:

Faryab province is situated in northwest Afghanistan and consists of Maimana, Andkhoi, Pushtoon Kot, Bilchiagh, Almar, Qisar, Durzab and Daulatabad districts. Inhabitants of the area are engaged in agriculture, livestock and handicraft using animal by-products.

Most parts of the province are rain-fed area. The agricultural production mostly depends on rain and snowfall. The agricultural production is limited to cereal crops and some fruits. In this province like in neighboring provinces for past three, four years less rain and snowfalls are reported.

The rain-fed agricultural production is nil this year. Quantity of water in canals is very low providing nominal water for irrigation. So the yield of irrigated land has substantially fallen down. The water level in shallow wells also has fallen down and in a number of places they are dried.

The graze lands in the province are mostly dried and reservoirs (Kanda) water is dried up. Livestock are left with no water and no fodder crop. Therefore, the animal owners bring them to the market to sell them in very low prices. Some animal owners have brought their animals to other provinces with better grazing situation.

Comparing to other provinces the drought situation in Faryab province is more severe. It has led to displacement from the province to other areas. Mostly they migrated to Baghlan and Kunduz provinces.

List of essential commodities in Faryab province:

Conclusion:

This report is prepared in the time that spring is over and the summer has just begun and harvest season has already started two months in advance of ordinary year. Usually at harvest season the price of wheat decreases, but this year, in contrary, the price has gone up. Still the whole year is left up-to the next harvest season.

Even in normal year these provinces do not enjoy sufficient irrigation water. Now there is still spring season but water level in canals, rivers and shallow wells have already dropped down. With such situation during coming months there will be serious shortage of water even for drinking purpose.

At the rate of present increase in the prices of the essential commodities, although there is continuos inflow of wheat and food from neighboring countries, during the coming months the people will be facing more difficult time.

Livestock owners will be forced to sell their animals in very low prices, even the people may not be eager to purchase them because they will also not be able to keep the animals. This will end to loss of many animals and shortage of livestock and their production in future. The existence of animal diseases, which is inevitable in such circumstances, will further worsen the livestock situation.

The displacement from highlands to cities and towns have started in some places while in Faryab the people have started to move to other provinces of the country. The process will speed up in the coming months and it will create another serious IDPs crisis for aid community.

The purchasing power of the inhabitants of these provinces is already in desperate position due to unemployment, low level of production and inflation. Considering the consequences of drought the situation will be further deteriorated.

Since the authorities in the provinces due to several reasons are not in a position to provide proper assistance to the drought affected people of the area, hence it's a great responsibility of the aid community to look in to the problem seriously.

Report Prepared by: Pamir Reconstruction Bureau( PRB)
Date: June 7, 2000
Pehawar