FAO Appeals for Aid as Rising Fertilizer Prices Threaten Afghanistan's Wheat Harvest

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is sounding the alarm over rising fertilizer prices in Afghanistan, which could severely impact the country's 2027 wheat harvest.

Rising fertilizer prices follow disruptions to global markets linked to the 2026 Middle East crisis. This has led to a sharp increase in diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea prices, making it difficult for Afghan farmers to afford these essential inputs.

With naturally low soil fertility, wheat production in Afghanistan depends heavily on adequate fertilizer applications. The FAO estimates that over two-thirds of annual fertilizer demand is met through winter wheat cultivation, which accounts for the country's principal staple crop.

The impact of rising fertilizer prices will be most severe for households already facing economic pressures, including women-headed households and food-insecure rural communities with limited capacity to absorb additional costs and shocks. According to FAO Representative Richard Trenchard, 'this is not a supply crisis; it is an affordability crisis at one of the most important moments in the agricultural calendar.'

FAO is appealing for USD 38.3 million to enable up to 600,000 farming households to access fertilizer and certified wheat seed ahead of Afghanistan's winter wheat planting season. The organization plans to deliver targeted subsidies through local private-sector suppliers, protecting production while strengthening agricultural markets.

Evidence shows that wheat yields increase by 32.8 percent when certified seed is combined with adequate fertilizer application and good agronomic practices. Funding secured by mid-September can help farmers access quality seed and fertilizer in time for planting, protecting production before losses become unavoidable.