Afghanistan

Middle East and Asia Subscribe to Afghanistan reports
Afghanistan
 Afghanistan Flag Afghanistan Flag
Latest food security analysis

Contact us with any questions about Afghanistan food security analysis availability.
Key messages
Key Message Update March - September 2026 Emergency outcomes expected to persist until the 2026 harvest begins Download the report
  • Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are expected to continue through April in Faryab, Ghor, and Daykundi, driven by the combined impacts of drought, weak economic conditions, and limited income-earning opportunities. As the lean season persists through April, households face limited income-earning opportunities, eroded purchasing power, and are entirely reliant on market purchases to access food, preventing a critical proportion of households from covering their minimum food needs. Households are likely resorting to negative coping strategies such as selling their last female livestock, early marriage of underage girls, selling homes or land, taking out high-interest loans, or begging.
  • Outcomes are expected to relatively improve to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) in Faryab, Ghor, and Daykundi from May through September, when the wheat harvest becomes available. However, households will continue to face high debt burdens and weak purchasing power, despite anticipated harvest-driven improvements in access to food and income. Own-produced food and Income from agricultural labor during the wheat harvest are expected to remain insufficient to fully prevent food consumption gaps, with poor households likely continuing to adopt negative coping strategies, including reducing meal size, selling productive assets, and accumulating further debt.
  • Elsewhere in Afghanistan, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes are expected to remain widespread, as households face the cumulative impacts of drought on agricultural productivity. The continued influx of returnees has continued to constrain labor markets and increase market demand for food, thereby weakening labor income and increasing food prices. However, the wheat harvest, which begins in May, is expected to provide households with improved access to food and income. At the same time, income from livestock sales is expected to remain elevated through Eid al-Adha, resulting in improvements between June and September.
  • Precipitation during the October to May rainy season has been below average across much of the country to date, despite localized areas of average to above-average rainfall. However, late January snowfall, average spring wheat planting, and anticipated average spring precipitation from March to May are expected to support crop development during a critical stage. As a result, the 2026 wheat harvest is expected to be near average at the national level, with average production in surplus-producing areas in the south, east, and southeast offsetting below-average production in the north and northeast. In the north and northeast, the combination of below-average winter wheat planting and below-average winter precipitation is reducing net production prospects, despite the anticipated improvements of spring wheat.
  • Pasture conditions for livestock are expected to remain minimal through March before seasonally improving from April through September. Snowmelt and spring rains are anticipated to lead to near-average spring pasture in northeastern, central, and central highland areas. These improvements are expected to support seasonal improvements in livestock body conditions, though outcomes will vary by region. In northwestern, western, and southeastern areas, where pasture conditions are expected to remain below average, livestock body conditions are likely to remain below average. While pasture availability is expected to be better than last year across much of the country, above-average temperatures and the cumulative impact of multiyear drought are likely to constrain the extent of improvement.
  • The ongoing conflict with Pakistan continues to moderately disrupt trade flows and reduce access to cross-border labor opportunities, constraining household food access in border regions. Despite a recent pause due to Eid al-Fitr, airstrikes and border closures persist. Additionally, an increase in conflict-induced displacement in eastern, southeastern, and southwestern provinces is placing additional pressure on host communities and local markets. As a result, displaced and poor households face increased barriers to food access and greater reliance on negative coping strategies, such as spending emergency savings, distress sales of productive assets, and increases in child labor. However, emergency assistance from local NGOs and WFP, as well as community support, is likely mitigating the impact on acute food insecurity outcomes, particularly among internally displaced populations.
  • In February, staple food prices, particularly wheat and vegetable oil, have remained broadly stable compared to the prior month; however, according to WFP price monitoring data, both wheat and vegetable oil prices have increased since October 2025, by 17 and 13 percent, respectively. Vegetable oil price increases are attributed to ongoing disruptions from the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict. Wheat price increases reflect higher transportation costs from longer alternative trade routes and above-average market demand driven by fully exhausted food stocks during the lean season. As a result, cumulative price increases are limiting poor households' ability to purchase wheat and vegetable oil at markets.
  • The ongoing conflict in the Middle East poses a risk of disruption to the Iran trade corridor, which accounts for approximately 31 percent of imports and serves as a major transit route. An estimated 25 to 30 percent of imports enter through the Chabahar and Bandar Abbas ports alone. Disruptions to these routes would likely tighten market supply, drive up transportation costs, and increase prices for key food and non-food commodities, including those transiting from third-party trade partners such as India.
  • Agricultural labor opportunities will remain atypically low through May but are expected to improve during the main harvest from June through August. However, pressure from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict with Pakistan could increase prices of essential agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer, limiting better-off households’ ability to hire labor. Similarly, the increase in prices of construction materials will further reduce casual labor opportunities, as many households rely on construction labor for income. Combined, these impacts will add further pressure on household access to cash income to purchase food countrywide, which is already low due to the weak labor market and high reliance on markets during the lean season.
 Read the full analysis
More analysis reports View all Afghanistan food security analysis reports Monthly analysis
Food Security Outlook Afghanistan February - September 2026
Key Message Update Afghanistan January 2026
Food Security Outlook Update Afghanistan December 2025
Alerts / special reports
Special Report Global June 23, 2025
Special Report Global May 1, 2025
Monthly analysis
Food Security Outlook Afghanistan February - September 2026
Key Message Update Afghanistan January 2026
Food Security Outlook Update Afghanistan December 2025
Alerts / special reports
Special Report Global June 23, 2025
Special Report Global May 1, 2025
Explore food security analysis data

The FEWS NET Data Explorer hosts the widest range of FEWS NET data for download or extract via API. The Data Explorer requires a free user account for access.
FEWS NET–style food security map of East Africa showing crisis severity by color, with conflict icons and alerts across Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Acute Food Insecurity Area-Level Classifications

FEWS NET produces IPC-compatible area-level acute food insecurity classifications monthly for FEWS NET reporting countries. This data is available as spatial files, tabular files, and map images. It is a key output of FEWS NET integrated food security analysis and is reported in our Food Security Outlooks and Outlook Updates (FSO/U) and Key Message Updates (KMU).

 View files (spatial and image) Go to Data Explorer
Map of East Africa with large colored circles over Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and South Sudan indicating comparative regional metrics; capitals labeled.
Acutely Food Insecure Population Estimates

These estimates reflect the total population estimated to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity outcomes, including those who are receiving humanitarian food assistance and those who are not. This tabular data is a key output of FEWS NET integrated food security analysis and is reported in our FSOs, global Food Assistance Outlook Briefs (FAOB), and semi-annual global Peak Food Assistance Needs Outlook Briefs.

 Go to Data Explorer
Markets and trade resources

Access FEWS NET’s market price data and analysis, plus trade flow maps.

Learn more about markets and trade
Monthly Global Price Watch reports

This report provides the latest outlook on global, regional, and national market trends of key commodity prices in FEWS NET reporting countries and also analyzes the various drivers influencing these trends.

 View Global Price Watch reports
Production and Trade Flow Maps

These maps display the geography of market systems and trade flow patterns for key products, including their key market towns and cross-border trade points.

 View Afghanistan Production and Trade Flow Maps
Price data

Price data is available for a large number of countries and products around the world. This data can be used to track the change in price of commodities, food staples, agricultural inputs, and other products over time and is a key input to FEWS NET food security analysis and Global Price Watch reports.

 Go to Data Explorer (all sources)
Agroclimatology resources

Access FEWS NET’s remote sensing data and analysis of weather conditions.

Learn more about agroclimatology
Weekly Global Weather Hazards reports

This report provides a global outlook on anticipated severe weather events, including maps with current weather information, short and medium range weather forecasts (up to one week), and the potential impact on crop and pasture conditions.

 View Global Weather Hazards reports
Seasonal Monitor reports

This report provides regional updates on weather events, rainfall patterns, and associated impacts on ground conditions (e.g., cropping conditions, water availability) during a given geography’s rainy season, along with a short-term rainfall forecast.

 View Afghanistan Seasonal Monitor reports
Agroclimatology data

FEWS NET and its partners offer a range of online tools that share insights on rainfall, temperature, vegetation, soil moisture, and surface water conditions derived from remote sensing data collection and modeling.

 View data portals and tools
Livelihoods resources

Access FEWS NET’s maps, reports, and data on local livelihood systems.

Learn more about livelihoods
Afghanistan 2011 Livelihood Zones Map (.PNG)
Livelihood Zone Descriptions

Zone Descriptions accompany a Zone Map, briefly describing the main characteristics of the livelihood patterns in that zone. The maps and descriptions are useful in informing the development of monitoring systems.

 View latest Afghanistan Livelihood Zone Descriptions
Livelihood Zone maps

Zone Maps illustrate the country by zone, showing areas where people generally have the same options for obtaining food and income and engaging in trade.

 View latest Afghanistan Livelihood Zone Map
Seasonal Calendar

These calendars illustrate the monthly availability of key food and income sources, plus the starts and ends to key rainy and lean seasons. They supplement livelihoods resources and are integral to FEWS NET’s food security analysis.

View and download the Afghanistan Seasonal Calendar
Seasonal Calendar image showing harvest and rainy periods for Afghanistan
Get the latest food security updates in your inbox Sign up for emails

The information provided on this Website is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Government.