Developing Irrigation Associations for On-Farm Water Management Project

Agriculture was badly affected by three decades of war and violence to the extent that the irrigated cropped area decreased by almost 70% and crop productivity plummeted, to less than 50% of the pre-war levels. Water is one of the most limiting factors for agricultural production. Low productivity is often attributed to insufficient irrigation. Most of the modern irrigation systems in Afghanistan were damaged during years of war and are in a state of disrepair as a result of long-term neglect.

Improving performance of agriculture is a pre-requisite for overall economic growth and poverty reduction in Afghanistan, and is required to transform existing subsistence farming into a modern, vibrant, and profit oriented entrepreneur capable to provide food security, bring better farm returns, reduce vulnerability, and create employment opportunities in rural areas. Rehabilitation and improvement of irrigation infrastructure as well as efficient use of water at the farm level are therefore key elements for achieving these objectives.

• • Walk-through survey for scheme verification
• • Contacting of mirabs and informing local government authorities about the proposed On-Farm interventions in the already selected and verified schemes
• • Community mobilization to support project staff activities e.g technical survey, agronomic data collection, social safeguard aspect training etc
• • Demonstration plots site selection
• • Training of farmers in O&M of watercourses
• • Training of the farmers in crop water requirements, and other agronomic aspects