Speeches Shim
The Kandahar Food Zone (KFZ) Program was a five-year USAID initiative to strengthen and diversify rural livelihoods away from illicit opium poppy cultivation in seven targeted districts of Kandahar. The program sought to provide the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with a successful model of alternative development, promoting licit alternatives to opium cultivation and increasing the legitimacy of the national and sub-national administrations.
AAEP II built the capacity of Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) in 27 provinces and 193 districts to deliver effective and sustainable extension services to Afghan farmers. The project’s objectives were to (i) improve rural household food security, (ii) enhance agriculture-based income generation, (iii) improve nutritional status of rural households, and (iv) enhance support for women in the agricultural sector. Activities were implemented through close partnerships with MAIL, provincial and district offices, local researchers and university faculty, farmers, and suppliers.
The Afghanistan Food Fortification Project sought to establish a sustainable program that controlled and prevented micronutrient deficiencies, strengthened immunity, prevented illnesses, improved recovery and disease outcomes, reduced negative birth outcomes for women and birth defects, and improved child survival. The project activities included fortifying wheat flour, edible oils, and salt with essential vitamins and minerals.
Coming from a farming background, Najla Dawlati was aware of the huge opportunities to make a living through bee-generated products like wax and honey. Najla was able to put this knowledge to work with help from a USAID women’s leadership development program. Jawana is a three-month training program that instills young Afghan women with self-confidence, decision-making, and leadership skills. Through its Alumni Network, Jawana also introduces graduates to other women with similar business aspirations.
Access to finance is a major challenge for agribusinesses and farmers in Afghanistan. The financial institutions in the country consider the sector risky due to the volatile security environment, lack of acceptable collateral, and lack of businesses’ capital. In addition, the level of financial literacy among businesses in Afghanistan is very low. Lack of information, limited loan offers, and heavy lending requirements have largely prevented agribusinesses from borrowing from financial institutions.
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