The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has warned that rising prices for chemical fertilizer and higher transportation costs have put Afghanistan’s agricultural production at risk of decline.
In a report released on Wednesday, November 11, the organization said the Strait of Hormuz crisis has increased transportation costs and the prices of inputs farmers need.
According to the report, access to chemical fertilizer is the second major obstacle to agricultural production in Afghanistan.
Compared with last year, the price of urea fertilizer has risen by 49 percent and the price of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer by 17 percent.
FAO added that farmers have reduced the area of land under cultivation because of fertilizer shortages and high prices.
According to FAO, rising prices of diesel, wheat, flour and rice have also increased the economic pressure on rural households.
The report said the price of wheat has risen by 12 percent, while the prices of high-quality and low-quality rice have increased by 26 and 33 percent, respectively.
FAO warned that if the situation continues, it could negatively affect the wheat planting season from October to December and food security in Afghanistan.
The organization added that the El Niño phenomenon is usually beneficial for Afghanistan’s crops.
However, rising fertilizer prices and limited access for farmers to the inputs needed for farming could reduce this advantage.
