FAO seeks $38.3M to protect Afghanistan's wheat harvest amid fertilizer price surge

Key facts

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is seeking $38.3 million.
• The funds are intended to help 600,000 Afghan farming households.
• The support will provide access to fertilizer and certified wheat seed.
• Global fertilizer prices have surged.
• The 2026 Middle East crisis is exacerbating fertilizer price increases.
• The initiative aims to protect Afghanistan's winter wheat harvest.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an appeal for $38.3 million to protect Afghanistan's vital winter wheat harvest. The funds are intended to assist 600,000 Afghan farming households in securing necessary agricultural inputs, specifically fertilizer and certified wheat seed. This intervention comes at a critical juncture as global fertilizer prices have surged dramatically. The ongoing 2026 Middle East crisis is cited as a significant factor exacerbating these price increases, directly impacting Afghanistan's capacity to maintain its crucial winter wheat production. The FAO's effort seeks to mitigate the risk of crop failure and ensure a degree of food security for a vulnerable population heavily reliant on domestic agriculture.