Ghazni Farmers Thrive As 39 Check Dams Revive Agriculture, Ease Drought

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Thirty-nine check dams have been constructed in southern Ghazni province over the past two years, helping to boost agriculture and mitigate the impacts of drought, according to farmers who report higher yields and rising groundwater levels.

Over the past three years, hundreds of small and large dams have been built across various provinces. Of these, 39 check dams were established in Ghazni alone during the past two years.

Local farmers say the projects have improved farming conditions and helped raise groundwater levels.

Haji Yasin, a tribal elder from the Rawza area of Ghazni city, told Pajhwok Afghan News that a check dam was built in their area two years ago by the Department of Energy and Water in cooperation with an organisation.

The structure reactivated canals and ensured a sufficient water supply for irrigation.

Salam Khan, a tribal elder and farmer from the Qasimkhel area of Nawa district, said their area had been severely affected by drought, which had dried up local canals.

He added that a check dam built by a Norwegian organisation two years ago had revived many canals and significantly boosted agricultural productivity.

“Previously, we cultivated 140 to 210 kilograms of wheat, producing 700 to 1,050 kilograms of yield. This year, the same land has yielded 6,300 kilograms of wheat,” he explained.

Similarly, residents of Jaghori and Waghaz districts reported improvements in both farming and livestock after the construction of small dams.

They said the structures had prevented floods, raised groundwater levels and revitalised agriculture and animal husbandry.

Economic affairs analyst Musadiq Sediq said that building check dams was an effective measure for water management, particularly amid worsening drought.

“These structures help capture rainwater, which supports agriculture and raises groundwater levels. They can also regulate water use for farming, create jobs and strengthen the economic base,” he noted.

Eng. Maulvi Mohammad Shafiq Mansoor, head of the water resources sub-zone, told Pajhwok that 39 small check dams had been constructed in Ghazni city and 18 districts over the past two years.

Of these, 19 projects were funded by the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW), while the remaining 20 were supported by partner organisations.

He said the dams were designed to mitigate the impacts of drought, prevent floods, preserve and absorb rain and snow water, raise groundwater levels and curb land degradation.

Minister of Energy and Water Maulvi Abdul Latif Mansoor, who recently visited Ghazni, told Pajhwok that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) was focused on combating drought and improving water management.

He said hundreds of check dams were currently under construction nationwide, with some already completed and others nearing completion.

Mansoor stressed the IEA's commitment to balanced development across all parts of the country.

Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to climate change. While the country emits only 0.19 percent of global greenhouse gases, it ranks fourth among the nations most affected by the climate crisis.

The agricultural sector-still the main livelihood for nearly 80 percent of Afghans-has been severely impacted. Unseasonal rains and floods linked to climate change have also damaged or destroyed harvests.

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