An Assessment of Technology Transfer System in Afghanistan : The Case of Balkh and Nangarhar Provinces

An estimated 85% of Afghanistan's population lives in rural areas, most of which are resource poor farmers whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and livestock in agro-pastoral or crop-livestock systems. Agriculture – including the processing of agricultural and livestock products -- provide employment to a bulk of the labor force. Thus, Afghanistan's economy is based mainly on agriculture and livestock production. Wheat provides the bulk of calorie intake, and accounts for about 70% of the area devoted to cereals and 75% of food grain production. According to the National Agricultural Master Plan of Afghanistan, achieving food security is one of the top priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). However, average yields of food and forage crops and livestock productivity are far lower in Afghanistan than their potential. Addressing the problems of Afghanistan's agriculture requires an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach