The vast majority of Afghan families rely on agriculture for their daily food and income. Sadly, agricultural productivity has been declining in recent years due to the effects of decades of conflict, economic downturn and outdated farming practices, placing an increasing burden on the poorest communities. Afghanaid works with men and women across the country to give them the training and equipment they need to lift themselves, and their families, out of poverty.

Find out more: The Situation  How you can help

Samangan is one of Afghanistan's most food insecure provinces. In a mountain village in the province, one of the men we trained is Mohammad. 

"My name is Mohammad Naeem. My wife and I have nine children and eight grandchildren. We live together with my six brothers and their families, all in one family compound.

Before Afghanaid came along, my children and grandchildren were hungry. I was always worried how I was going to provide for them. I took what work I could find but there was not enough, especially during winter. My brothers and I tried growing grapes to sell but we didn’t really know how to get the benefits from it. Sometimes I struggled to afford enough food and clothes for my family, or to pay for medicine when they fell ill.

 

Then Afghanaid came to my village and offered me the chance to learn how to grow a vegetable garden. They gave me all the tools I needed to get started, along with many types of vegetable seed, including tomato, aubergine, squash and broccoli.

They taught me how to lay out the garden, plant the seeds and cultivate the vegetables and they were always on hand to give advice on how to harvest more vegetables, for example, by using polytunnels. These days our garden is green, we have fresh vegetables in our home and our children and wives are happy.

Sometimes I can even share my vegetables and good fortune with our neighbours who are struggling. The rest we sell in the market. With the extra money, we can afford to buy clothes for the little ones and my grandchildren no longer go hungry. And if they get sick we can afford to take them to the doctor. 

The vegetable garden is changing our lives; now I am hopeful for my grandchildren's future." 

Diversifying rural livelihoods is vital to achieving sustainable progress in rural Afghanistan. A donation today will help us to help more vulnerable rural families to make the most out of their land and adapt to the changing and volatile environment. The effect of your gift, however small or large, will be long-lasting, as the people you help lift their entire families out of poverty and pass on their new skills to the next generation.

In Afghanistan, 41% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition. Please make a donation today and help more vulnerable Afghan families put food on the table all year round.