Priorities for investment in public research and extension capacity for improved fodder and forage production in arid and semi-arid Afghanistan

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Agriculture, particularly livestock production, is central to the livelihoods of families in Afghanistan, with over 80% of Afghans directly involved in agricultural production. However, in the country’s arid and semi-arid environments, livestock producers often face substantial losses in years of drought, primarily caused by inadequate access to nutrition for animals. Compounding the biological constraints of forage and fodder production are the challenges faced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) to develop, evaluate, and disseminate innovations and agronomic packages for farmers and herders to mitigate these constraints. This paper presents preliminary results from applied trials and field demonstrations of a variety of forage and fodder crops. Based on this work we conclude that there are forage varieties showing tolerance to limited water and fertility resources that are readily adaptable to the varied Afghan climatic and production conditions. As a result of two years of applied research, extension capacity building, and key stakeholder engagements, this paper also presents recommendations for building the capacity of Afghanistan to equip farmers with the knowledge and technologies necessary to respond to constraints to forage and fodder production.