Restoring livelihoods in the face of climate change- How a farmer in Nangarhar reclaimed his farmland

Bar Ashpan, Nangarhar Province – Afghanistan

For years now, Saifoor, a 38-year-old father of eight from the rural village of Bar Ashpan,  has seen even his best farming efforts yield less and less. Saifoor owns 7.5 acres of land, on which he grows wheat, tomatoes, onions, and potatoes. Frequent flooding has left large portions of his land unusable and eroded the fertile topsoil. Unpredictable rains and poor irrigation infrastructure have pushed him into poverty- earning around 3,000 AFN (35 USD) per season. 

“We would plant, and then we would watch everything disappear with the floods,” Saifoor recalls, standing beside the newly built canal that now runs beside his field. 

Turning the tide: Restoring agricultural livelihoods

CRLP constructed an irrigation canal spanning the village's farmland, and serving over 60 acres. The canal is helping nearly 50 farmers secure reliable water supply while also diverting floodwater away from their fields.

Saifoor’s harvest has now grown from 8 to 13 tons per season-  giving him more than double the profit he used to make from his farm. The time he spends tending the farmland has been reduced, now Saifoor no longer expends time and money repairing flood-damaged land. With the savings, he now sends all his children to school.

Local solutions for climate action

Like many parts of Afghanistan, Nangarhar has experienced a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of flash floods due to climate change. These risks are especially severe in rural areas already grappling with the lingering effects of conflict and economic fragility.

CRLP addresses these challenges through a community-led approach to climate action. The project works with community institutions to conduct Disaster Risk and Hazard Mapping, identify priority infrastructure needs, and train communities on Disaster Risk Preparedness and Mitigation. Sub-projects, such as canals, protection walls, and irrigation systems, are constructed with direct participation from community members—building capacity and ownership.

This integration of physical construction with awareness-building empowers communities to manage local risks more proactively, adapt and recover from climate risks better.

From Recovery to Resilience

With a secure water supply, Saifoor is now looking beyond recovery. He plans to expand his farmland by six more acres and invest in high value crops like beans and pomegranates. Saifoor has taken a keen interest in water conservation and sustainable farming. He is considering organic fertilizers to further enrich his soil and sharing his knowledge with other farmers in his community.