The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says using greenhouses equipped with drip irrigation systems can reduce water consumption in agriculture by up to 60 percent.
FAO said on Monday, September 21, on X that, with support from the European Union and in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), greenhouses equipped with drip irrigation systems have been built for farmers in Kandahar.
The organization added that the greenhouses allow for more efficient use of water, the cultivation of crops out of season, and the supply of nutritious vegetables for families and markets.
Ashraf Al-Hawawamdeh, FAO’s technical adviser in Afghanistan, said, “Water is one of the main constraints facing farmers in this region. Climate-smart technologies, such as greenhouse vegetable production, drip irrigation and appropriate farming practices, can help farmers make better use of limited water and land resources.”
According to FAO, one of the greenhouses covers about 400 square meters and is shared by six farmers.
FAO added that seeds, fertilizer, tools and technical training have also been provided to the farmers.
The UN agency said farmers are being trained in seedling management, irrigation, fertilization, plant pruning, and pest and disease control.
The program is part of the “Afghanistan Community Resilience” project, which is funded by the European Union and implemented in Kandahar, Helmand and Badghis provinces in cooperation with FAO, UNDP, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
