Afghanistan: FAO & Asian Development Bank advance $100 million initiative to boost food security & resilience | FAO News

Rome/Kabul – The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) & the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are implementing a $100 million initiative to bolster food & nutrition security & restore agricultural livelihoods for more than one million vulnerable people across Afghanistan.

Over the next two years, the project will support more than 151 000 households (or 1 057 000 people), including returnees from Pakistan & Iran, host communities & families affected by recent earthquakes & floods. The initiative will help rural households restore livelihoods, protect livestock, & rebuild disrupted agricultural production systems.

Addressing multiple, compounding crises

Agriculture remains the backbone of Afghanistan’s rural economy, yet it continues to struggle with low productivity, limited access to inputs & restricted market opportunities. Repeated natural disasters have destroyed crops, livestock assets & irrigation infrastructure, while large-scale return movements from neighboring countries have placed additional pressure on already vulnerable host communities.

Large-scale life-saving agricultural support & food assistance delivered at the height of the food crisis helped curb acute food insecurity nationwide. However, conditions have since deteriorated again. In 2026, 17.4 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity, including 4.7 million in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), characterized by wide food consumption gaps & high acute malnutrition. Persistent  drought conditions, combined with anticipated La Niña impacts bringing below-average rainfall & above-average temperatures into early 2026, are further heightening risks.  

With millions of Afghans already facing mounting pressures & at risk of slipping into deeper acute food insecurity & malnutrition, there is an urgent need for sustained investment that goes beyond emergency response to strengthen long-term resilience.

This initiative prioritizes climate-smart & people-centered interventions to boost agricultural production, improve food & nutrition security & diversify rural livelihoods. Special attention will be given to the most vulnerable communities, particularly women-headed households & communities in provinces most affected by climate & economic shocks.

Fostering sustainable growth in Afghanistan

The project marks another milestone in the strong partnership between FAO & ADB in Afghanistan. Since 2022, ADB has provided approximately $265 million in grants through FAO to strengthen agricultural production & curb acute food insecurity across the country.

Through this collaboration, FAO has reached an estimated 5. 6 million vulnerable people, supporting more than 841 000 households in restoring crop & livestock production, improving food security & nutrition & stabilizing food supply chains during a period of severe humanitarian crisis.

FAO assistance packages have demonstrated strong cost-effectiveness & lasting impact. For around $200, a wheat cultivation package can feed a family of seven for an entire year, meeting 70 percent of daily energy needs. Farmers using FAO-certified seeds achieved 27 percent higher yields, with each household producing an extra 360 kg of wheat – enough to feed two additional people annually. These packages also generate sufficient quality seed for three to four subsequent seasons, ensuring lasting gains. Livestock support has increased herd ownership by 50 percent & improved household nutrition through increased milk & meat consumption.

“Our partnership with ADB is delivering real, measurable results for farming families across Afghanistan,” said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General. “From the outset, this collaboration has focused not only on meeting immediate food security needs but also on closing Afghanistan’s food production gap & creating space for private sector recovery. With ADB, we have enabled millions of rural households to access the tools & resources they need to grow food, protect their animals & ensure their families have enough nutritious food. This project deepens our shared commitment by expanding support beyond emergency needs toward more diversified, agriculture-based livelihoods, strengthening crop & livestock production, post-harvest activities & market opportunities, with a particular focus on women who play a central role across Afghanistan’s farming & livestock sectors,” he added.

By bridging immediate food security support with longer-term resilience-building, the initiative aims to ensure that families not only recover, but are better equipped to withstand future shocks in a highly vulnerable context.

Read more about FAO’s contribution to the agricultural sector in Afghanistan.