FAO Warns Afghanistan's Wheat Harvest at Risk from Soaring Fertiliser Prices

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued an urgent warning that soaring fertiliser prices could jeopardize Afghanistan's wheat harvest in 2027. Despite favorable growing conditions, rising costs of essential agricultural inputs may significantly reduce yields if farmers cannot afford them.

Afghanistan's wheat production relies heavily on diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea due to the country's naturally low soil fertility. The FAO attributed the increase in fertiliser prices to disruptions in global markets linked to the 2026 Middle East crisis.

The organisation is appealing for $38.3 million to support farmers before planting, which would enable up to 600,000 farming households to access fertiliser and certified wheat seed. According to Richard Trenchard, the FAO Representative in Afghanistan, 'This is not a supply crisis; it is an affordability crisis at one of the most important moments in the agricultural calendar.'

The warning comes as winter wheat is Afghanistan's main staple crop, accounting for more than two-thirds of annual fertiliser demand. High prices could force farmers to use less fertiliser or cultivate less land, reducing food production and increasing debt.