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In the remote hills of northeastern Afghanistan, women farmers are essential to their community’s resilience, working amidst snow-capped peaks.
In June, the fields of Eshtiwi show only faint hints of life, with tiny green sprouts beginning to poke through the soil near the village.
Habiba, a woman who was tending her garden of weeds, shared with AFP that she has been farming in Nuristan for many years.
“Since I was eight, I’ve been going to the fields with my mother,” said the 46-year-old woman who prefers to keep her last name private.
“Harvesting wheat, beans, potatoes, and corn every fall, then bringing it home—those moments make us truly happy,” she added.
Women in Afghanistan generally have some allowance to farm, even though the Taliban government has banned most forms of women’s employment.
Mohammad Yahya Faizi, a 34-year-old with a degree in agriculture, expressed his respect for the women’s efforts.
“If it weren’t for their work, we’d have no food in the middle of winter,” he noted.
Eshtiwi’s accessibility is limited; it can only be reached by a dirt road, and until AFP’s visit, it had been years since any international media had documented life here.
Faizi explained that for generations in the Parun Valley, men and women have taken on traditional roles—women mostly tending to planting, watering, and household chores, while men handle animals and gather firewood for the long, harsh winter months when snow isolates the village from the outside world for nearly half the year.
Habiba’s mornings start at about 4 a.m., rising to pray and then preparing breakfast with her daughters over a wood stove.
She uses wheat flour to make bread, fruits of her labor—red beans from her fields—accompanying her homemade butter and dried yogurt crafted by her husband.
Their home, functioning as both kitchen and bedroom, is decorated with flowers drawn by her 11-year-old daughter Nahida, who is practicing English learned at the local school.
Yet, Nahida’s formal education will soon halt, as girls nationwide are prohibited from continuing school beyond age 12.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, emphasizing how their critical contributions remain underrecognized in supporting global food security.
In Afghanistan, nearly a third of the population relies on emergency food aid, underscoring the importance of women’s roles in agriculture.
Bibi Jan, a 70-year-old woman growing beans and potatoes, describes farming as demanding but vital.
“We work hard; our hands become raw, but we have children to feed,” she shared.
Habiba dreams of owning a tractor, but the cost is prohibitive; the only one in the village is rented out to those who can pay.
“I’m not very strong—it hurts my back and legs,” she admitted.
Najia, who chose not to share her last name to protect her privacy, agreed that local farmers need better tools and more opportunities to market their products.
“Farming is a noble profession, and it’s not just for men,” said the 28-year-old, who studied in Pakistan.
Many farmers have surplus crops, but they face challenges selling at a fair price because there isn’t an organized marketplace—only passing traders and limited direct access to buyers.
Najia explained that she sells her potatoes for 70 Afghanis (around $1.10) for seven kilos, but she believes she should earn about 150 Afghanis for a decent profit.
To help farmers store their harvests for better selling opportunities, the UN has funded storage units, and some women have received improved seeds.
FAO is also promoting agroforestry, combining trees with crops to diversify income streams.
Faizi mentioned that the village, once primarily producing apples and walnuts, now boasts cherry, pear, and peach trees among others.
Climate change presents a big threat, with unpredictable snow and rain, along with floods that can wipe out crops.
The UN Development Programme reports that Afghanistan is among countries that contribute least to global warming but suffer its most severe impacts.
Weather unpredictability adds to their hardships; Najia notes, “We can’t forecast it—these storms just hit us.”
Despite these hurdles, women enjoy working outdoors together, supporting each other and providing nutritious food for their families.
“We grow what we can with our own hands, and that’s very healthy,” Najia said confidently.
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