Amid growing climate and economic hardships in Afghanistan, United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UK government have jointly launched a major new initiative to support vulnerable farming communities. The Resilient Agriculture Livelihoods (ReAL) project, announced on this week, aims to improve food security and restore rural livelihoods across 15 provinces, reaching over 151,000 people in the next 10 months.
Funded by the UK as part of its ‘Promoting Resilient and Equitable Recovery of Agriculture and Livelihoods in Afghan Communities’ (PREVALE) programme, the project will prioritize small-scale farmers, livestock keepers, and landless laborers. Widows and women-headed households are also being given special attention, with dedicated support for poultry farming, livestock training, and access to dairy markets, measures expected to boost both nutrition and income levels for affected families.
“We are very grateful to the UK government for this timely and strategic support,” said Richard Trenchard, FAO’s 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, what we in FAO call the ‘Four Betters’: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.”
In its first phase, the ReAL project will focus on increasing wheat and dairy production, restoring community irrigation systems, expanding access to high-quality seeds, and conducting livestock vaccination campaigns. Strengthening local animal health services will also be a key component, aimed at reducing livestock losses due to disease.
Agriculture continues to be the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy and food systems. From 2022 to 2024, FAO’s emergency and resilience-focused agricultural assistance reached more than 30.3 million Afghans, helping to significantly reduce acute food insecurity levels. The ReAL project aims to build on this progress by promoting income-generating activities, improving market access, and helping communities manage climate risks more effectively.
The project will be implemented in parallel with another PREVALE-supported initiative led by the Afghanistan Resilience Consortium (ARC), headed by Afghanaid. Together, FAO and ARC will share best practices, expand the evidence base, and promote climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture to reduce food insecurity across vulnerable regions.
Investing in agriculture remains one of the most cost-effective strategies to address food insecurity in Afghanistan, where millions still face chronic hunger. As the country continues to face overlapping climate, economic, and humanitarian crises, experts stress the importance of sustained international support to protect hard-won gains and pave the way for long-term resilience and recovery.
