Human Development
Water and Poverty .
Identifying the problems of low agriculture outcomes in Afghanistan, Prof. Alimi singled out increasing land salinity preventing agricultural cultivation. Since soil salinity makes it more difficult for plants to absorb soil moisture, Prof. Alimi discussed the response of leaching salts out of the plant root zone by applying additional water.
Water and Poverty
Kabul, 04 June 2009 - by Prof. Masood Mohsini from the Faculty of Economics; Prof. Rahmatullah Zwakman from the Faculty of Geography; Prof. Mohammad Alim Alimi from the Faculty of Agriculture; and Mr. Waheed Muzhdah an independent scholar
Kabul, 04 June 2009: The Center for Policy and Human Development (CPHD) held the First Roundtable Discussion of 2009 on “Water & Poverty” at Kabul University. Since water and poverty correlate in a number of different ways, CPHD facilitated the discussion to raise awareness and public dialogue on this core cause of poverty in Afghanistan.
The First Roundtable Discussion consisted of key guest speakers from the top Faculties of Kabul University; Prof. Masood Mohsini from the Faculty of Economics; Prof. Rahmatullah Zwagman from the Faculty of Geography; Prof. Mohammad Alim Alimi from the Faculty of Agriculture; and Mr. Waheed Muzhdah an independent scholar. Presenting their perspectives on water and poverty, these intellectuals opened the stage for a general dialogue with the audience.
About 90 Kabul University lecturers and students participated in the discussion, as well as international guests working in the water sector. The roundtable discussion was covered by various national radio and television stations.
Drawing from the theme of the discussion, the guest speakers focused their attention on how water affects the daily lives of ordinary Afghans.
Mr. Mohsini discussed the Afghan use of water for economic and agriculture purposes, noting the significance of water for agriculture production, that makes it one of the major drivers of economic growth in Afghanistan.
Discussing water from social and economic points of view, Mr. Muzhdah highlighted challenges faced by nomads, farmers, water required in services sector, factories and for construction purposes and for the domestic use of the ever-increasing urban population. Mr. Muzhdah also underlined the unequal distribution of water in Afghanistan.
Highlighting demand for water, Mr. Zwagman drew attention to the increasing water requirements since the 1950s. Since then, he stated, the demand for water has multiplied three fold because of the huge population movement within the country. Mr. Zwagman pointed out that there were more than 500 water related conflicts in the last half century--yet only 21 among them were violent.
Identifying the problems of low agriculture outcomes in Afghanistan, Prof. Alimi singled out increasing land salinity preventing agricultural cultivation. Since soil salinity makes it more difficult for plants to absorb soil moisture, Prof. Alimi discussed the response of leaching salts out of the plant root zone by applying additional water.
The guest speakers proposed that Afghanistan ought to implement modern irrigation systems that not only protect plants from salinity but also increase agriculture production, thus empowering Afghans to be food self-sufficient again.
Several speakers noted the water loss inherent in current traditional irrigation systems. The outdated water storage system in Afghanistan is not capable of holding further rising water pressure, they argued.
In looking towards responses to the water and poverty challenges in Afghanistan, several guest speakers recommended drip irrigation systems that are 90% more efficient than the traditional system.
Likewise, last year students from the Faculties of Geology, Agriculture and Economics shared their ideas on proper water management. On reducing poverty and strengthening Afghanistan’s economic sector, students of Kabul University remarked that sufficient water together with modern irrigation system and agricultural growth (organic farming) will lead to significant poverty reduction.
The First Roundtable Discussion of CPHD was well received by participants from Kabul University, international guests, attendees from non-governmental organizations as well as by the national media.
In order to raise awareness of these critical issues, CPHD will continue these Roundtable Discussions throughout 2009.
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