Agriculture / horticulture
High-value horticulture and sustainable livelihoods in Afghanistan
An Asian Development Bank-financed initiative examined how Afghanistan’s high-value horticultural value chains could better support sustainable livelihoods. Agricultural economic analysis linked production and quality constraints with market access, investment bottlenecks and opportunities to align national and donor-supported interventions.
Context and purpose
The Asian Development Bank-financed horticulture initiative sought to strengthen the connection between high-value agricultural production and sustainable livelihoods in Afghanistan. The assignment examined the production, quality and market constraints affecting farmers and traders, including smallholders.
The work
Agricultural economic analysis assessed value-chain bottlenecks and investment needs. A review of planned and ongoing projects identified opportunities for complementarity and risks of duplication. Engagement with the EU Delegation and other stakeholders helped relate strategy recommendations to livelihood and development priorities.
Outputs and use
Value-chain recommendations informed the proposed horticultural strategy and investment priorities. They identified potential livelihood and food-system benefits to guide planning, rather than reporting realised income gains or completed investments.