FAO Appeals for Urgent Support as Afghanistan's Wheat Harvest Hangs in Balance

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is seeking urgent support to protect Afghanistan's 2027 wheat harvest due to rising fertilizer prices. Farmers in Afghanistan are facing severe consequences as a result of disruptions to global markets linked to the 2026 Middle East crisis, which has led to a sharp increase in fertilizer costs.

Afghanistan's farmers rely heavily on adequate applications of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea due to naturally low soil fertility. Winter wheat is the country's principal staple crop, accounting for over two-thirds of annual fertilizer demand. The rising prices mean many farmers may be forced to reduce fertilizer use or cultivate smaller areas, resulting in lower production, reduced household food availability, and increased debt.

The impact will be most severe for households already facing economic pressures, including women-headed households, returnee families, and food-insecure rural communities with limited capacity to absorb additional costs and shocks. FAO's Representative in Afghanistan, Richard Trenchard, stated that the effects of rising fertilizer prices are an affordability crisis at a critical moment in the agricultural calendar.

The 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's response aims to help farmers access inputs through targeted subsidies delivered through local private-sector suppliers, protecting production while strengthening agricultural markets.