The choice of commercial rice cultivation in northeastern Afghanistan, 2009

01/09/2009

Current production systems are clearly dominated by the double annual wheat-rice system. Despite some signs of weakness, it remains the most profitable and best adapted to local conditions. While crop diversification is an option to be promoted in project areas affected by relative water scarcity, the expansion of commercial rice cultivation downstream of the canals appears to be a likely development that needs to be supported. From a methodological point of view, the integration of an agrarian systems component proved very useful when this water management project was launched.