Drought, Conflict and Regional Unrest Producing Dire Consequences for Afghan Food Security

Oct 31, 2018 | Phoebe Sleet
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Along with worsening conflict and a precarious economic outlook, one of the worst droughts in decades is compounding food insecurity in Afghanistan, especially in the north and west of the country. A La Niña event has caused a rain and snow deficit of 70 per cent this year and the wheat production forecast looks grim. As the drought has worsened, there has been a 45 per cent reduction in agricultural output this year. This is a further fall from 2017’s figures, which saw wheat production fall 57 per cent below the five-year average.