In the remote Parun Valley of northeastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, women farmers are the backbone of their community's survival, cultivating wheat, beans, potatoes, and corn in fields surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Habiba, a 46-year-old farmer who has worked the land since she was eight years old, told AFP that harvesting in autumn brings joy to her family. “When we harvest wheat, beans, potatoes and corn in the fields in autumn and bring them back home, we feel happy,” she said while weeding.
Generational Division of Labor
Mohammad Yahya Faizi, a 34-year-old agriculture graduate and volunteer with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), explained that tasks have been divided between men and women for generations in the Parun Valley. “Women are busy with agriculture, planting, watering and cooking at home,” he said. Men handle animal-drawn plows, livestock, and firewood collection, especially during winter when snow isolates the village for nearly six months. Without women's agricultural work, Faizi noted, “we would not have food anymore in the middle of the winter.”
Daily Life and Education Barriers
Habiba's day begins around 4:00 am with prayer, followed by preparing breakfast with her daughters using a wood-fired stove. She makes bread from her own wheat flour and serves red beans from her fields, alongside butter and dried yoghurt made by her husband. Her 11-year-old daughter, Nahida, practices English learned at the village school, but her education will soon end as the Taliban government bans girls from schooling beyond age 12 nationwide. Habiba never had the opportunity to attend school herself.
FAO Recognition and Challenges
The FAO has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, highlighting how their vital role in food security remains “unrecognized.” This is especially critical in Afghanistan, where nearly a third of the population requires emergency food aid, according to the UN. Bibi Jan, a 70-year-old bean and potato farmer, described the grueling work: “We have to work hard, our hands peel... but there are children to feed.” Habiba dreams of owning a tractor, but only one exists in the village, rented out by a family to those who can afford it. “I'm not that strong; my back and my legs hurt,” she admitted.
Market Access and Climate Concerns
Najia, a 28-year-old university graduate from Pakistan who requested her surname be withheld, emphasized the need for better tools and market access. “Farming is a great profession; it's not just for men,” she said. Despite surplus crops, “there is no structured market to sell our produce.” Remote location prevents direct sales, and traders passing through offer limited options. Najia sells potatoes for 70 afghanis ($1.10) per seven kilograms, but needs 150 afghanis for a decent income. The UN has financed storage units to allow harvests to be kept for better market conditions, and some women have received improved seeds. FAO introduced agroforestry, combining trees and crops, to diversify income. Faizi noted the village now grows cherry, pear, and peach trees alongside traditional apples and walnuts.
Climate Change Impact
Climate change poses a growing threat, with unpredictable snow and rain or floods destroying crops. The UN Development Programme ranks Afghanistan among countries that “have contributed the least to global warming yet bear its heaviest costs.” Najia said, “We can't predict it; it just hits us.” Despite these challenges, women value working together outdoors. “We can help each other,” Najia said, adding that their homegrown food is “very healthy.”
