Four Irrigation Canals Rebuilt in Badakhshan to Support Legal Farming

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has rebuilt four major irrigation canals in the Argo, Khwahan, and Kishim districts of Badakhshan province. This project has provided more than 1,000 former poppy-farming families with permanent access to water, creating opportunities for legal cultivation and enhancing agricultural productivity.

With the restored and regular water supply, residents of these areas can now expand their legal agricultural production and strengthen their food security. This initiative is also part of broader efforts to promote sustainable alternatives to poppy cultivation and support development in the province.

The lack of adequate irrigation infrastructure has long been a major barrier to legal agriculture in vulnerable regions. Experts believe that increased attention from the international community and relevant institutions is essential to creating viable alternatives to drug cultivation in Afghanistan and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for farmers.