Logar Province, Afghanistan 6 March 2025 – Amid persistent humanitarian challenges and recurring crises in Afghanistan, a significant step toward sustainable agricultural development was achieved on March 5, 2025, with the official launch of the “Advancing Wheat Cultivation for Sustainable Development in Central Afghanistan” project. The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Kabul Office, aims to enhance agricultural productivity and food security for vulnerable communities in and around Kabul.
This project is a critical component of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) “Afghanistan Food Security Program (AFSP),” initiated following the 17th Extraordinary Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan (December 2021, Islamabad). Under the adopted Resolution, IOFS was entrusted with executing sustained efforts to bolster agricultural resilience and meet immediate food security needs across Afghanistan.
Through this multifaceted initiative, 15 metric tons of improved seed wheat (Lalmi and Amir varieties) have been distributed to 300 farmers across Baraki Barak, Mohammad Agha, and Pul-e Alam districts. In addition, 15 metric tons of DAP fertilizer and 30 metric tons of Urea fertilizer have been provided to improve soil fertility. To ensure sustainability beyond the immediate harvest, comprehensive training sessions on seed-saving practices are underway, empowering local farmers to sustain future planting seasons. Launched during the holy month of Ramadan, the seed distribution has already positively impacted smallholder farmers.
Local farmer Abdul Matin Ezzati expressed deep gratitude, highlighting the project's timeliness and critical impact: “We had a very poor harvest last year and limited access to quality seeds. Farmers often resorted to exchanging seeds among themselves, but the seeds we received today offer hope for a better harvest this season.”
The inauguration ceremony featured presentations that underscored the project's significance and outlined its scope and objectives. AFSP Coordinator and Humanitarian Affairs Officer Emre Yuksek provided a project overview, followed by remarks from Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Mawlana Sadrazam; Mr. Gaziz Akbassov, Charge d'Affaires of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Kabul; Mr. Bilal Emre Biral, Deputy Head of Mission of the Republic of Türkiye to Kabul; the Governor of Logar Province; TIKA Kabul Coordinator Mr. Fazil Akin Erdogan; and representatives from the OIC Kabul Office. Each speaker emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in strengthening food security, supporting rural livelihoods, and fostering long-term economic resilience.
The official distribution ceremony concluded with the formal handover of certified seeds and fertilizers to 300 farmers, preparing them for cultivation starting in March and harvesting expected by late June. This project is co-financed by IOFS, TIKA, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). AFSP anticipates expanding its partnerships with other OIC and non-OIC entities in the future, bolstered by generous contributions from the host country of IOFS, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye.
Since its inception, the IOFS “Afghanistan Food Security Program (AFSP)” has successfully facilitated emergency food aid, water and sanitation projects, and crucial livelihood support initiatives. Notably, the program previously launched the “Advancing Wheat Cultivation for Sustainable Development in West Afghanistan” project in Herat in October of last year. Today's ceremony in Central Afghanistan marks another important milestone, reflecting IOFS’s unwavering commitment to addressing immediate needs while establishing a foundation for sustainable agricultural development.
