Effect of Flooding and Financial Difficulties
At least one in five households in northeastern and central highlands of Afghanistan are experiencing Crisis (IPC Phase 3). The main causes of this circumstance are current floods and continuous macroeconomic difficulties that limit household income and lower buying capability. With the beginning of the harvest in September, food access is projected to get better despite these challenges.
Urban Struggles and Lowland Stability
Even while food costs are steadily dropping, urban regions in Afghanistan still suffer with low buying power because of restricted labor options and a drop in remittances. Lowland regions are, on the other hand, showing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) effects. Some assistance has come from the recent harvest in these areas improving food supply and access.
Wheat and Fruit Harvests
The lowland eastern, northern, and southern provinces' first wheat harvest of the 2023–24 agricultural season has ended. In the central and western areas, harvesting is still under way; wheat harvesting in the central and northeastern highlands is projected to start in September.
Beginning in June and continuing now, stone fruits including cherries, almonds, apricots, and nuts were harvested. But a cold snap from late February to early March and above-normal temperatures that hampered the blossoming of these fruits may explain this year's projected below average stone fruit yield.
Second crop planting
Planting second crops like rice, maize, and cotton is still in progress in the lowlands of the northern, western, southern, and eastern provinces until July. Thanks to excellent precipitation, adequate soil moisture, and better water availability, these plantings are predicted to be very ordinary.
Humanitarian Relief and Flooding Effects
Through its hotspot response distributions, the World Food Program (WFP) gave over 853,500 people general food, cash, and nutritional support in June. WFP is reporting financial restrictions for the next six months, which might cause a drop in aid even while humanitarian food assistance usually declines at the peak of the harvesting season (June–August).
Particularly in Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman provinces, June and July experienced flooding linked with the Indian monsoon impacting at least 1,925 families in the eastern, northeastern, and central areas. Additional evaluations are in way. Flooding also caused localised damage to vegetable crops in Badakhshan, Daikundi, and Bamyan provinces. In these places, humanitarian partners are intensifying their response activities.
steady food prices throughout harvest season
Afghanistan's basic food costs were constant in June 2024, mostly because to the continuous harvest of fruits, vegetables, and wheat, therefore augmenting market supply. Furthermore supporting food costs include regular import supply, stability of the Afghani currency versus the USD, and stable fuel prices. In June, wheat flour's retail price averaged 24 AFN/kg countrywide; prices ranged from 17 to 31 AFN/kg. Wheat grain prices are, overall, 14 percent below the four-year average and 16 percent below last year.
Export market demand has dropped, meanwhile, as the Pakistani government's 300 percent import duty rise for Afghan fruits and vegetables causes. Higher local market supply and lower selling prices inside Afghanistan are outcomes of this decline.
Work and Salary Compensation
Seasonal changes have helped to somewhat offset non-agricultural wage labor availability. Still, it stays in line with last year's and the four-year average. Low liquidity among middle-class and better-off households still limits the availability of agricultural wage jobs, therefore affecting the general family incomes.
Final Thought
Although steady food prices and recent harvests offer some respite, many people in Afghanistan still struggle greatly from floods and financial difficulties. Long-term recovery and resilience depend on initiatives to increase work possibilities and economic stability; humanitarian aid is still absolutely vital.
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