IN

II.THE ECONOMY

II.2. ECONOMICS OF THE RURAL POPULATION

II.2.1. FARM SIZE

There are some large land holdings, but most farming operations are small and family-size. Different aspects are discussed in different places herein, and are not repeated here.

Before 1978, some 2.7 or so million ha were irrigated annually, and 1.4 million ha of rainfed land were cultivated. Some 4 million ha of land were cultivated annually before 1978 by some 1.2 million farm families (Dennis et al.).

In the 3 provinces (including Bamian and Wardak) served by Solidarites, small landholders make up 80-90% of the farm population, with an average per-family of 1-10 Jeribsof land. Big landholders (10-20%) operate 10-20 jeribs, some up to 20 ha. One Jeereeb is 0.2 ha, or about 0.5 acre.

In some interviews, it was reported that the average farm family cultivates about 2 Jeribs (about 1 acre). Average farm family size was said to be about 7 persons (others said that average family size was parents and 7 children).

In Ghazni Province, for example, it was reported that the average family farms about 5 jeribs or 1 ha (1 jerib = 0.2 ha, or about 0.5 acre) of land.

II.2.2. LAND OWNERSHIP AND TENANCY

most farmers reportedly own their own land. An estimated 20% are tenant farmers; in this case, the landowner often provides land, seed, water, most tools, fertilizer, equipment, etc., and gets 2/3 of the crop yield. The tenant and his family provide the labor, and get 1/3. A number of other arrangements were reported in discussions with farmers. Many farmers reportedly own some land, and rent other land.

According to Sloane, ownership and access to land and water resources is a complex issue, deeply woven into the fabric of Afghan society. While local khans or wealthy farmers may be disproportionately large landowners, their wealth and leadership status carries a range of social and economic obligations. This particularly applies to assisting with access to farmland or irrigation water and providing credit for poorer members of their clan or extended family group. In many areas, the prevalence of sharecropping may be a function of the private ownership of water sources, rather than ownership of land.

Commonly, 10-20% of the population of a village is landless. Even most of these have (or had, before the drought and war) a cow, which used common grazing ground (DACAAR).

Through a complex system of sharecropping and leasing, many more families have access to land, than the number of families who own land. While the farmer working his own land is the most common situation, many families (including those who own some land) get access to land as sharecroppers. The sharecropper uses land and/or water belonging to another, in return for paying a proportion of the crop yield to the owner. The proportion paid varies according to the respective contributions of the landowner and the sharecropper (in land, water, seed and fertilizer, farm power, and labor). In general, each of these elements is valued at one-fifth of the output; however, arrangements vary widely according to the agreement between the landowner and the sharecropper.

Other reported land access arrangements include:

--Renting, on either an annual or long-term basis, pay a fixed amount of produce or money;

--Moneylender's lease, with land provided to the lender for his use in return for a loan to the owner, although land ownership is not transferred;

--Mortgage, where the lender takes possession of the land title as security for a loan to the owner.

Leasing is often used in fruit production. The orchard or vineyard owner will lease the trees (usually for the one crop growing on the trees in that season) to a fruit merchant or trader who assumes responsibility for the final production stages, particularly harvest and marketing. Rent is often paid as a fixed sum rather than a percentage of the yield (which often is felt to favor the merchant).

II.2.3. AVERAGE FARM FAMILY INCOME

National annual per capita income has been reported as approximately US$ 300, prior to the recent conflict, with the rural population significantly below this.

Most farm families produce for their own consumption, and many do not fill their own family's food needs. Aside from the opium poppy situation, fruits and vegetables appear to be the farm family's primary cash crop. Potato, barley, etc., are also sold.

In most contacts with farmers, they reportedly did not have enough cash to buy seed to plant, or enough leftover grain to use for seed. "If we had not received seed from ICARDA, we could not have planted our fields".

"Rural families are characterized by abysmally low income levels, not even adequate to ensure a minimum quality of life compatible with physical well-being" (FAO, 2001). Drought and political instability have devastated Afghan agriculture, especially in rainfed areas. The drought affected almost every sector of farming-draft oxen, fertilizer use, sheep, goats, etc. Smallholders, especially in the "unfavored environments" of rainfed agriculture, "have lost all worldly possessions and are waiting for some miracle" (FAO).

However, one FAO source (Martinez, e-mail, late April 2002) described Afghanistan's agriculture as "farming systems are very robust and though suffering many stresses as the result of conflict and drought are still able to produce and deliver seed of high quality….Farmers with either grain for seed exchange or cash are able and prepared (sic) procure seed of a better type than their own to replenish stocks.….FAO's experience has been that they (seed growing farmers, and merchants) have experienced no difficulty in finding a ready market for their 'quality' seed and farmers prepared to pay cash for this".

In contrast, another FAO report stated that "despite stable prices and well-stocked food shops, access to food is severely constrained by a scarcity of income-generating activities and lack of employment opportunities outside agriculture."

In visits to farmers and villagers, this mission found that many farmers had little or no cash. Without the emergency seed and fertilizer supplied by donors, many farmers would have been unable to grow crops this year.

II.2.4. FAMILY PRODUCTION FOR MARKET

WFP reports that most rural people produce to meet their own food needs; most farmers don't presently produce enough to meet these. Most farm families are thus involved in subsistence agriculture rather than market-oriented crop production.

In some villages visited, it was reported that their sole cash income was from selling fruits to dealers/truckers who come to the villages, buy the "standing" fruit crop, and then truck it to city markets. Some of these merchants were reported to be from Pakistan.

II.2.5. CONDITIONS OF A TYPICAL FAMILY VISITED

A number of farm families were visited (more description are in the social needs reported herein by Dennis), and had a wide range of conditions. However, for illustrative purposes, relevant conditions of one family visited are described here.

There are 25 members in the family, 15 of which are children, of 3 mothers. The house has 3 "rooms" (may be sections). The farmer and his brother together have 3 jeribs of land (1.5 acres) and rent 3 more. They grow wheat, alfalfa, clover, and potato. His wheat is seed production contracted with ICARDA. He grows 3 jeribs of winter wheat, and 0.25 jerib of spring wheat.

Seed of the variety Bakhtawar-96 reportedly could be purchased from another farmer for 75,000 Afghanis (@38,000/US$1) for 1 seer (7 kg).

A neighboring farmer with 9 members in the family has 3 jeribs. Last year, he grew 1.5 jeribs of wheat (variety Atay 85, which is not recommended since 1996-"the only seed available"), it had rust, so yield was low, 350 kg/jerib. This fed the family for 3 months. He grew 0.5 jerib of potatoes (yield 2,800 kg), 0.5 jerib of barley (for livestock feed, yield 420 kg; the family has 1 female goat, sold 1 kid goat). The rest of the time "there was no food and no job". He went to Pakistan seeking work, but was imprisoned 3 times (reportedly, reason unknown, assumed prejudice against Afghans), for several days each. He earned no money, but a brother went to Iran and brought back money he earned by working there.