Agriculture can improve nutrition in Afghanistan

While there are multiple causes of malnutrition in Afghanistan, undernutrition and lack of dietary diversity point to micronutrient deficiencies rather than generalised food insecurity. This implies a major role for agriculture. In Afghanistan, there is potential to re-orient the whole agriculture sector towards the nutrition agenda. The objectives of the research reported here are to identify the interrelationships among key organisations in agriculture and nutrition, evaluate the local evidence linking agriculture to nutrition, and understand the perceptions of decision-makers about policy-making and implementation, and the capacities for improving nutrition through the agri-food system. Policy recommendations: The Afghanistan Food Security and Nutrition Agenda (AFSANA) frames the agriculture, health, and other development sector policies and programmes for: greater decentralisation or ‘deconcentration’ of policy making to provincial levels; increased investment in departmental government capacity within the agriculture and health sectors; improved information flow and knowledge management between central and provincial governments; investment in infrastructure for agriculture and nutrition; framing and improving national trade policies for agribusiness.