Population

According to the data of the last nine years (2010-2018) (Chart 1), the population of Afghanistan is 33 263 261 people on average. Men constitute 51% of this population with 17 069 695, and women constitute 49% with 16 082 455. 74% of the population live in rural areas and 26% live in urban areas. Average annual population growth rate is around 2.5% [4].

The social structure in Afghanistan is diverse and Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmens, Hazaras and smaller ethnic groups make up the people of Afghanistan today. Although definite ethnic boundaries cannot be drawn in terms of living areas, Pashtuns are concentrated in the south, Tajiks are concentrated in the east, Tajikistan and Iran in the west, Turkmen and Uzbeks are concentrated in the north, and Hazaras are concentrated in the central region. While ethnic differences can be seen as a historical richness for Afghanistan, they are also subject to geopolitical sensitivity due to their similar origins with neighboring countries [5].

Chart 1. Population Information of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 2010-2018 [4].

Climate

Afghanistan generally has a harsh and low-rainfall climate, but the climate varies in some parts of the country. The winter months are very severe in the mountainous areas, but mild in the Hamun basin extending to Sistan and in the Amu Darya valley in the north. Summers are hot and very dry, and the temperature can reach up to 45 degrees Celsius in some valleys [6]. However, the climate of Afghanistan, which is generally a plateau country, is warm in spring and autumn, and therefore grapes, melons, peaches, apricots, walnuts are grown from mid-climate products. In Afghanistan with an annual precipitation of 992 mm, it can exceed 200-400 mm on the northern and southern slopes of the mountainous axis, 100 mm in the Sistan region, and 1000 mm on the peaks of the Hindu Kush Mountains. The distribution of precipitation by months is quite uneven. The rainiest months are February, March and April (Chart 2).

Chart 2. Average Temperature and Precipitation Data for Afghanistan (1977-2013).

Land Size

Afghanistan, with a surface area of 652 100 km² (65 210 000 ha), generally consists of plateaus with mountain ranges and plains in some places. Due to the lack of precipitation in Afghanistan, which is an agricultural country, only 12% (7,788,000 ha) of its land can be considered as arable land [6]. Considering its topography, the central part of Afghanistan is high and mountainous, the north is plain and the southwest has a plateau appearance. 75% of the country's land is mountainous and the mountains in the middle regions extend to the Himalayan Mountains [3]. More than 49% of the mountains are higher than 2,000 meters. Located in the eastern parts of the country, in the region called the Wakhan Corridor, the height of the mountains reaches 7 thousand meters [6].  Afghanistan in general is a topography with high peaks, steep slopes, deep valleys, windy deserts and plateaus poor in vegetation [3]. The plain called “Afghan Turkestan”, which forms the border with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and stretches for 500 km along the Amu Darya which is the lowest place in the country (258 m), is the main agricultural area. In addition, the Badgis in the northwest, Herat in the west and the Heru Rud River Plains oriented towards Iran, and the Kabul River Valley and the Hilmand Water Basin are the important plains of the country [6].  

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Plant Production

The values of field crops, stone fruit, fresh fruit and vegetable production of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in 2019 are shown in Chart 3, 4 and 5. The cultivation area of field crops is 2 872 571 ha, and approximately 6.7 million tons of production has been realized from these areas (Chart 3). The most important field crops are mainly wheat, paddy, corn, barley, pulses, potatoes, cotton, flax and sesame.  Wheat cultivation areas constitute 80% of the total field crop cultivation areas and 72% of the production.  Other plants (paddy, corn, barley, legumes, potatoes, cotton, flax and sesame) have a share of approximately 18% (533 920 ha) in the total cultivation area and 27% in the production amount (1818 990 tonnes). It is seen that the yields are at a very low level due to the lack of precipitation, the use of varieties with low yield potential and the deficiencies in the cultivation technique.

Chart 3. 2019 Field Crops Production of Afghanistan [4].

Stone fruits are grown on an area of 74 909 ha and 318 467 tons are produced (Chart 4).  Almond, apricot, peach and nectarine have a very important production area of 72% among the stone fruits. Almond 38 205 tons, apricot 129 363 tons, peach and nectarine 61 361 tons, walnuts 5 025 tons are produced from stone fruits. Apricots account for 41%, peach and nectarines for 19%, and almonds for 12% of stone fruit production.

Chart 4. 2019 Stone Fruit Production of Afghanistan [4].

Chart 5. 2019 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Production of Afghanistan [4].

Fresh fruits and vegetables are grown on an area of 360 195 ha and 4 203 439 tons are produced (Chart 5). Fresh vegetables, grapes, watermelons, melons, apples and onions have a very important production area of 94% (337 894 ha) among fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh vegetables are produced 1 025 132 tons, grapes 1 112 927 tons, watermelon 846 990 tons, melon 464 230 tons, apples 250 324 tons, dry onions 352 725 tons. Vegetables and grapes make up 51% of the total fruit and vegetable production, watermelons and melons make up 31%.

Apart from the products mentioned above, Afghanistan is one of the countries with illegal poppy cultivation and opium production in the world. Approximately 60% (154 000 ha) of the illegal poppy cultivation areas in the world, around 240 000 ha, and 70% (3 700 tons) of the illegal opium production, which is around 5 000 tons, are done in Afghanistan. The equivalent of this as morphine is about 400 tons [8].

Animal Production

According to the data of the last three years (2017-2019) (Chart 6), the average live animal stock including poultry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is 41 478 935. Of these animals, 50% (20 602 100 units) are sheep and goats, 33% (13 877 000 units) poultry, mostly chickens, and 13% (5 244 514 units) cattle. In addition, there are 4% (1 755 321 units) of pack animals such as horses, donkeys, camels and mules. Among the pack animals, donkey has an important number with 1 404 508 units [4]. 

Chart 6. Three-Year (2016-2018) Livestock Asset of Afghanistan [4].

The 2018 animal product production of Afghanistan is around 2.7 million tons (Chart 7). Cow, goat and camel milk forms approximately 2.3 million tons of this production. 87% of total milk production consists of cow milk. Total animal meat production is 261 431 tons, of which 51.2% is sheep and goat meat, 36.5% is beef, and 10.9% is chicken. Camel meat production is at a very low rate of 1.4%. In addition, 44 132 tons of edible offal, 36 508 tons of leather, 22 159 tons of eggs, 9 197 tons of tail fat, 1,239 tons of honey and 50 tons of raw silk are produced. 

Chart 7. 2018 Animal Products Production of Afghanistan [4].

Processed Agricultural Products Production

A total of 73 306 tons of processed herbal products are produced in Afghanistan, as an average of 2016-2018, 14 879 tons of cotton fiber, 29 307 tons of cotton seeds, 5 209 tons of cottonseed oil, 19 201 tons of flax oil, 740 tons of olive oil, 2 408 tons of sunflower oil, 1 127 tons of sesame oil and 435 tons of tons of sugar. In addition, 64 250 tons of processed animal products, 22 966 tons of cheese and 41 284 tons of butter are produced (Chart 8).

Chart 8. Three-Year (2016-2018) Processed Agricultural Products Production [4].

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT EXPORT AND IMPORT

Import

Afghanistan’s animal product import values for 2019 are given in Chart 9, herbal product import values are given in Chart 10, and processed product import values are given in Chart 11.

Afghanistan imported approximately 199 million dollars of animal products in 2019 (Chart 9). Milk and dairy products (milk, butter, cheese, yoghurt) account for 45.4% of the import value of animal products, poultry products (chicken, eggs, honey) for 33%, meat and dairy products for 21.5%. The rest is skin and fibers. Fatty and non-fat cow milk among milk and dairy products, beef among cheese, meat and meat products, chicken meat and eggs in poultry products have an important role. Approximately $90.4 million was paid for milk and dairy products, $65.7 million for poultry products, and $42.7 million for meat and meat products.

Afghanistan imported about $446.8 million of herbal products in 2019, of which $222.4 million was field crops and $224.4 million was garden crops (Chart 10). Field crops consist of rice, wheat, potatoes, flaxseed, corn, sunflower, barley, peanuts, soy, canola, sesame, oats and cottonseed. With total value of imports of plant product 49.8% in agricultural products, which account for rice ($125.6 million), wheat ($38.5 million), potato ($37.6 million), flaxseed ($13 million), corn ($3.3 million), sunflower ($2.3 million) and barley ($1.9 million) plays an important role. 90% of the total import value of field products ($222.4 million) is composed of rice, wheat and potatoes, which are the staple foods. Afghanistan is a country that tops the world list in wheat consumption per capita. Afghans get about 60% of their daily calorie needs from wheat-derived products. For this reason, the wheat produced in the country is insufficient to meet the consumption and wheat and wheat flour are imported from abroad.

Chart 9. 2019 Animal Products Import Numbers of Afghanistan [4].

Garden products (fruits and vegetables) consist of oranges, apples, bananas, persimmon, walnuts, grapes, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, lemons, peach-nectarines, pears, pineapples and other fruits, as well as onions, tomatoes, peppers, roots and tubers and other vegetables (Chart 10). Among the garden crops, which constitute 50.2% of the total import value of herbal products, fruits have an important place with 173.4 million dollars. Oranges, apples, bananas, persimmon and walnuts are among the imported fruits, and tomatoes, onions, roots and tubers are among the vegetables.

Afghanistan imported a total of 1.5 billion dollars of processed products in 2019, including 1.3 billion dollars of various processed products, 180 million dollars of vegetable oils and 583 000 dollars of oilseed meal (Chart 11). Various processed products include flour, sugar, tea, tobacco products, canned vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, baby food, food by-products, frozen vegetables, chocolate products, juices, spices, raisins, processed grains and wine. Processed product import value (1.5 billion dollars) consists of 87.6% of various processed products, mainly flour, sugar and tea, 12.3% of vegetable oils, 0.1% of oilseed meal. Various processed products include flour, sugar, tea and tobacco products; palm, sunflower and soybean oil in vegetable oils; among the oilseed meals, soybean and cotton meal have an important place.

Chart 10. 2019 Herbal Products Import Numbers of Afghanistan [4].

Chart 11. 2019 Processed Products Import Numbers of Afghanistan  [4].

Chart 12. Countries that have a share in the import of products imported by Afghanistan [9].

When the countries that have a share in the imports of Afghanistan's imported products are examined (Chart 12), Pakistan in the fruits, sugary and chocolate products, milk and dairy products, biscuits, vegetables and livestock sectors; Kazakhstan in the flour sector; Russia in the vegetable oils sector; Uzbekistan in the legumes sector; Brazil in the poultry meat sector; Turkey in the egg sector; India in the tobacco and tobacco products industry; in the nuts sector in Singapore; South Korea in the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages sector; it is seen that the USA has a high market share in the milk and dairy products sector containing concentrated and added sweeteners. Pakistan, which has the longest border to Afghanistan among these countries, is the leading country with a high market share in 6 different product items.

Export

Afghanistan in 2019 exports of plant products of around 170 million dollars, 25 million dollars of which is field crops, 145 million dollars is garden crops (fruits and vegetables) (Chart 13); It exported a total of 220 million dollars of processed products, of which 204 million dollars were plant and 15 million dollars were animal products (Chart 14).  The field crop, which has the highest share in the exports, is sesame seed, while the garden crop is walnut, grape and apple. Spices and raisins are important in exports of processed products, and salted beef and dark leather in animal products.

Chart 13. 2019 Herbal Products Export Numbers of Afghanistan [4].

 When the countries to which Afghanistan has exported are examined, sesame seeds to Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); walnut to India, Turkey and UAE; fresh and raisins to India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium; apples to Pakistan and India; spices to India, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Yemen; processed fruit and vegetables to China, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UAE; it is seen that it exports salted cattle and sheepskin to Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan [4].

Chart 14. 2019 Processed Products Export Numbers of Afghanistan [4].

CONCLUSION

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, located at the crossroads of the Asian continent, between Central Asia, the Middle East and South Dec, is a country of great geostrategic significance. Afghanistan, which has an area of 652 100 km², has a population of approximately 34 million. 51% of the population is men, 49% are women, and 74% of the current population lives in rural areas and 26% in urban areas.  Average annual population growth rate is around 2.5%. In the country, which is among the poorest countries in the world, 40% of the people are poor and the unemployment rate is around 40%. 80% of the population lives on agriculture and the rate of working in the industrial sector is quite low, it is 6%.

Afghanistan generally consists of plateaus and plains with mountain ranges. Due to the lack of precipitation in Afghanistan, which is an agricultural country, only 12% of its land can be considered as arable land. Agriculture is Afghanistan's most important source of employment. Among the products grown in the country, cereals such as wheat, barley, corn and paddy stand out. However, the yields of these grown crops are low due to lack of precipitation, deficiencies in irrigation and cultivation techniques, and the use of low-yielding varieties. In the country where a significant portion of arable land is devoted to wheat, improvements in the production of this basic nutrient will be beneficial in improving the country's food security and creating local economic opportunities. In this context, it is very important to increase the knowledge, skills and competencies of the country's agricultural sector (agricultural engineers and technicians, farmers, producers and private sector), to introduce them to new techniques and technologies, and to establish an agricultural research system (R&D), especially wheat.

Among the field crops imported by Afghanistan, which is an agricultural country but whose production is not enough for the country's needs, wheat, rice and potatoes, which are the basic nutrition tools, and flour, sugar and tea as processed products have an important role. Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Turkey, India, Singapore, South Korea and the USA are the countries that have a high market share in the import of the products imported by Afghanistan. Pakistan, which has the longest border to Afghanistan among these countries, is the leading country with a high market share in 6 different product items. The field crop, which has the highest share in the country's exports, is sesame seed, while the garden crop is walnut, grape and apple. Spices and raisins are important in exports of processed products, and salted beef and dark leather in animal products.

The people of Afghanistan, who have been traumatized by the civil war and occupations, have gone through difficult processes since the day they were born. The country, which has a lack of qualified human and investment capital, needs to follow the steps that will ensure cooperation and unity of power with its neighbors and real friendly countries other than colonial states, within the understanding of security, development and good governance.

REFERENCES

[1] Anonymous (2017). Afghanistan Report. T.R. Kabul Embassy Commercial Counselor. https://www.kutso.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Afganistan.pdf 

[2] Şeyhanlıoğlu, H. (2008). The Geostrategic Importance of Afghanistan from the 18th Century to the Present. Republic of Turkey, Turkish Cooperation and Development Administration, Eurasia Studies, 34(2): 61-82 

[3] Behroz, A. (2020). History and Society on the Axis of Afghanistan Political Geography. Karabuk University Graduate School of Education, Department of Regional Studies, Master's Thesis, 108 pages. 

[4] Anonymous (2018). Crop production statistics. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). www.fao.org. 

[5] Erman, K. (2017). Geopolitical Theories and Afghanistan. Gazi University Journal of Social Sciences, 4 (11): 394-420. 

[6] Şenli, B. (2017). Afghanistan (1945-1989). Fırat University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of History, PhD Thesis, 518 pages. 

[7] Anonymous (2020). Afghanistan Ekonomy 2020. Ankara Chamber of Commerce. https://www.atonet.org.tr/Uploads/Birimler/Internet/Alt%20Tan%C4%B1t%C4%B1m/2020-08-20-%C3%9Clke%20Raporlar%C4%B1/Afganistan.pdf 

[8] Arslan, N. ve Javani, M. (2014). Opium Production for Medical Purposes in the World. TÜRKTOB, Türkiye Tohumcular Birliği Dergisi, 3(10): 15-19.

[9] Anonymous (2021). Major Potential Agricultural and Food Products for Export to Afghanistan. T.R. Ministry of Commerce. https://ticaret.gov.tr/data/5f1ff35713b87604785508bb/Afganistan_Tar%C4%B1m_ve_G%C4%B1da_%C3%9Cr%C3%BCnleri_Matrisi.pdf