revival of agriculture sector is seen as a key for economic development of Afghanistan. Presenting his 100 Day Plan, the new agriculture minister pledged to devise and implement effective programs for improvement of Afghanistan’s agriculture with the aim of boosting the country’s overall economy and public livelihood. Asadullah Zameer, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, outlined his plans on agricultural matters such as increased involvement of private sector in agribusiness sector, building capacity and improvement of human resources, administrative reforms, initiatives on development of irrigation system, storage facilities, natural streams, wheat production, fruit orchards and commercial trees, preservation of forests and etc. The National Unity Government (NUG) has promised major reforms in agriculture and agribusiness sectors as part of its overall plans for boosting Afghanistan’s post-NATO economy.

Afghanistan’s economy is heavily relying on agriculture sector. Afghanistan’s overarching development and poverty reduction plan, “Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANSA), states that “Agriculture will determine whether Afghanistan will succeed or fail.” However, the country’s agriculture has been devastated by decades of insecurity and civil wars. In the past over a decade, there has been a major focus on reviving the agricultural infrastructures of Afghanistan and businesses related to the sector. However, there have been tangible results along with considerable failures in the collective efforts to reconstruct the agriculture sector. The failures of the past fourteen years in agriculture is mainly highlighted by incoherent efforts and competing strategies of the international donors as well as the government of Afghanistan for improving Afghanistan’s agriculture sector.

After the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, Afghanistan’s economy grew strongly at approximately 10 percent per year for around a decade, the statistical figures suggest. However, was largely based on aid assistance from the international community, investments, rapid growth in areas like cellular networks and economic activities associated with US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. Agriculture sector had a little share of this growth. As the flow of aid and cash related to NATO war efforts reduced before 2014, Afghanistan’s rate of growth fell sharply to around 2-3 percent annually. With the prospect of Afghanistan’s financial stability, it is believed that the country will need to make rapid and concrete improvements in agriculture, mining, human resources and transport sectors so to be able to build a self-sufficient economy for the country.

Today, despite revived activities in industrial activities in Afghanistan, most of Afghan citizens remain depending on small scale agricultural and livestock activities. However, Afghanistan’s potential for growth of agriculture and mining sectors along with its strategic location offer a promising opportunity for long-term development of the country’s economy. Agriculture and agribusiness sectors can play an important role in developing the country. According to government officials, most of Afghanistan’s businesses are involved with agricultural production and agribusinesses. And, in the meantime, small and medium enterprises and companies, most of which operating in agriculture sector, constitute more than 90 percent of all businesses in Afghanistan, generating a large share of the country’s GDP.

Investing in agriculture will help Afghanistan in its quest for financial stability and self-sufficiency in the long run. Afghanistan will need to wean off the international funding that has propped upped the country for the last fourteen years. Also, the international aid for Afghanistan’s development and security funding will further decrease as the international presence is declining in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has set the upcoming decade for finding the capabilities to generate sufficient revenues and get financial independence from the international donors. However, given the challenges of insecurity and insurgency, that could be a far distant goal for the country. Afghanistan has no option but to increase domestic revenue through development of key sectors such as agriculture to reach the goal of self-sufficiency before the international donors cut off their aid money to the government of Afghanistan.

For this, the improvement of agriculture sector is one of the key areas that can pay off remarkably for the country becoming financially self-sufficient. Improving agriculture will not only help the government to increase revenue generation, but also it will help a large portion of Afghan population for higher income and more financial prosperity. According to the U.S. development agency, USAID, an estimated 75 percent of Afghanistan’s 34 million people live in rural regions where agriculture is the principle means of livelihood. For these Afghan farmers, improved agriculture means better living standards and financial prosperity. Financial security and better livelihood for the ordinary Afghans in particular those residing in rural areas will also serve security and stability of the country as joblessness and unemployment directly serves the ongoing insurgency in the country.

Given the role of the agriculture sector on future prospect of Afghanistan’s economy, the government should make major investments on improvement of agriculture, among other key sectors such as mineral resources. Improved infrastructural services such as transport and roads, electricity and access to markets are keys for improvement of Afghanistan’s agricultural production and agribusinesses. The government needs to provide the required environment for development of agriculture sector through provision of such infrastructural services. The bottom line is that the government should avoid inconsistent policies of the past over a decade of international donors in approaching the agriculture sector development and go ahead with solid plans and programs.