Water management, livestock and the opium economy: natural resources management, farming systems and rural livelihoods

Agriculture has traditionally occupied a central position in the Afghan economy, and a high proportion of rural Afghans have historically depended on agriculture for their livelihoods. After years of disruption due to intermittent conflict, drought and population movements, there were high expectati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Format: Electronic Software eBook
Language:English
Published: Kabul Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit 2008
Series:Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit synthesis paper series
Subjects:
Summary:Agriculture has traditionally occupied a central position in the Afghan economy, and a high proportion of rural Afghans have historically depended on agriculture for their livelihoods. After years of disruption due to intermittent conflict, drought and population movements, there were high expectations that agriculture would return to its former primacy following the establishment of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan in 2001. Continuing problems with agriculture (and rural society and economy, more widely) have been associated with a rapid growth of the illicit opium economy. By 2005 this was estimated to account for 46 percent of GDP and engage 12 percent of the rural population. The large scale of the problem has made the search for alternative livelihoods an integral component of rural planning and policy formulation. Key directions for agricultural policy have been set out in the Agriculture Master Plan. The plan emphasises liberalisation of the agricultural economy and seeks to promote growth in the sector through the creation of value chains. The Master Plan links food and livelihood security to thriving agro-industries and rural employment markets
Item Description:"November 2008."
Physical Description:115 S. Tab., graph. Darst. 12 cm

There is no print copy available.

Interlibrary loan Place Request Caution: Not in THWS collection!