Afghanistan launches $200,000 dam projects to revive agriculture
Authorities have begun building two dams in central Logar province, part of a $200,000 project aimed at boosting irrigation
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Authorities have begun building two dams in central Afghanistan’s Logar province, part of a $200,000 project aimed at boosting irrigation, improving food security, and creating local jobs. Officials say the initiative could provide much-needed relief for rural communities that depend heavily on farming.
According to Pajhwok Afghan News, the dams are being constructed in Azra and Charkh districts with financial support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The areas lie southeast of Kabul, where water scarcity has long hampered agricultural development.
Maulvi Sher Aqa Pir Habib ul-Rahman, head of Logar’s Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Department, said the projects would allow thousands of acres of farmland to be irrigated more efficiently. He emphasized that the dams form part of Afghanistan’s wider Agricultural Development Plan, under which similar infrastructure is expected in other districts.
Deputy Governor Maulvi Mohammad Anwar Dinparwar described the dams as critical for addressing both agricultural needs and water management challenges. “Projects like these should be extended to other parts of the province,” he said, noting that Logar’s farmers remain highly vulnerable to drought and seasonal rainfall shortages.
In addition to their long-term benefits, the dams are expected to generate short-term employment. Around 500 people will be hired during the construction phase, offering job opportunities in a region where livelihoods are often precarious.
Agriculture accounts for more than 60 percent of Afghanistan’s workforce and is the backbone of the rural economy. Yet decades of conflict, climate change, and outdated irrigation systems have left much of the country’s arable land underutilized.
Central provinces such as Logar — located just south of Kabul and known for wheat and vegetable cultivation — have been particularly affected by recurring droughts.
Officials in Logar expressed hope that the two dams would not only secure better harvests but also demonstrate the value of investing in sustainable rural development. They argue that similar projects, if expanded nationwide, could help safeguard Afghanistan’s fragile agricultural base and strengthen food security for millions.
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