New partnership to help over 150,000 people enhance food production The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the UK  government have launched a new initiative to…

New partnership to help over 150,000 people enhance food production

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the UK  government have launched a new initiative to improve food security, boost rural livelihoods and help Afghan communities better withstand climate and economic shocks.

FAO’s Resilient Agriculture Livelihoods (ReAL) project will reach over 151,000 people (21,572 households) over the next 10 months across 15 provinces in all eight regions of Afghanistan. The project will prioritise small-scale farmers, livestock keepers, and landless labourers, with particular attention to widows and women-headed households. The UK generously funds the project as part of its ‘Promoting Resilient and Equitable Recovery of Agriculture and Livelihoods in Afghan communities’ (PREVALE) programme.

In its first year, the project will help farming families improve wheat and dairy production, restore community irrigation systems, expand access to high-quality seeds, and protect livestock through vaccination campaigns and local animal health services.

Women will play a central role in the project, with tailored support for widows and women-headed households through poultry packages, livestock training, and access to dairy markets—enhancing nutrition for women and their children and boosting income opportunities.

“We are very grateful to the UK government for this timely and strategic support,” said Richard Trenchard, FAO Representative in Afghanistan. “Afghanistan’s farmers are extraordinarily resilient, but repeated climate and economic shocks are eroding this strength. This project lays down important pathways to help farmers rebuild that resilience—leading to better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and ultimately, a better life – what we in FAO call the ‘Four Betters’.  In a country where agriculture sustains most lives, this is a short-term investment with long-term impact.”

Agriculture remains the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s history, culture, livelihoods and food security. Between 2022 and 2024, FAO reached more than 30.3 million Afghans through emergency and resilience-focused agricultural assistance. These efforts have contributed to reversing the country’s acute food security crisis, almost halving the number of people facing acute food insecurity over the past four years.