Hundreds of greenhouses have been set up in Afghanistan’s western Herat province, and farmers are reporting that the structures are transforming agriculture in the region as they learn how to grow new types of crops in a different type of environment. Greenhouses can benefit the environment, as they use land and energy efficiently and decrease irrigation loss in a region prone to droughts. Most importantly, the year-round supply of locally grown produce they provide has significantly reduced the need for imported food. Local residents now can enjoy everything from fresh tomatoes to bright red strawberries grown in their home province.
In news reports, local growers have stated that the greenhouses have helped farmers create a sustainable income and supplied markets with a steady stream of fresh vegetables. One farmer interviewed in a recent news report stated that in 2010, he had invested $20,000 in a greenhouse in the Injil district of Herat for growing strawberries. The greenhouse technology has increased his capital to $100,000. Another farmer in the Herat region said this his business has expanded from needing only five employees to a current payroll of 50. Others report that switching to greenhouse technology has allowed them to gain a financial footing, as they can earn enough money to support their families and invest in building more greenhouses. Recent improvements in irrigation systems also have encouraged farmers to commit to working in the agricultural sector.
History of Greenhouses in Herat
In 2006, a report from USAID traced the beginnings of greenhouse technology in the Herat province, a rural area where residents often suffered through the winter without access to fresh produce. According to USAID, about 1.5 million people who lived in Herat depended on fresh fruits and vegetables imported from other nearby countries in the winter months. Without greenhouses, local farmers can’t grow crops in colder weather, which means they lose significant income and subsequently can’t afford cold storage and other technology that would help them make money from produce in the winter.
Greenhouse technology brought about significant changes for Herat’s farmers. USAID worked with Catholic Relief Services to start a greenhouse pilot project in the region. They pitched the idea to local farmers, noting that the advantages of growing produce in greenhouses were far-reaching. Not only could the technology allow them to grow produce during the winter in order to meet significant demand, but it also reduced the region’s dependency on imports and came with low starting costs. With a greenhouse, small- and medium-scale farmers could grow high-yield crops all year.
One farmer, Mola Shah Gool, told USAID that he planned to build more greenhouses after success with the first. “For a small cost, I can gain a good income, and they are easy to water from shallow wells, common in this dry area,” he said.
In the first two years, 81 greenhouses were built in three areas in Herat. As part of the program, farmers were assigned to test greenhouses and train other local farmers in greenhouse technology. The results were promising: many farmers who participated in the program nearly doubled their annual income. As they spread news of their success word-of-mouth, more than 100 additional farmers applied for loans to pay for building their own greenhouses.
In ensuing years, USAID has ensured that many greenhouses are kept in workable condition through its refurbishing program. The agency also provides training in how to maintain the greenhouse, as well as in irrigation techniques, disease control, and harvesting methods.
Hundreds of Greenhouses
In recent years, greenhouses have proliferated in the Herat province, including in the Karukh, Guzara, and Injil districts. Farmers are growing a variety of new crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and eggplant. The produce often provides many new jobs—as many as 12 people can work in a greenhouse—and workers earn enough money to support their families. “This is the easiest way to create job opportunities,” one farmer told a media outlet.
In Herat, more than 9,000 people are employed in about 1,500 greenhouses that have been constructed throughout the province. As a result, farmers can provide local produce year-round, and the region has become less dependent on imported vegetables. In mid-2021, for example, Herat’s agriculture directorate stated that this year’s strawberry yield could increase by over 150 metric tons. While some farmers continue to use outdoor methods for growing strawberries, most of the new growers use greenhouses. One woman interviewed by a media outlet stated that she wanted to use what she has learned cultivating strawberries to open a peanut farm. The success of greenhouses in Herat has inspired farmers in neighboring provinces, including Farah and Nimroz, to also take up this growing technique. While farmers are encouraged by the success, in recent interviews with media outlets they have encouraged the Afghan government to continue supporting the greenhouse sector across Afghanistan.