The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has appealed for $38.3 million in urgent funding to help protect Afghanistan’s 2027 wheat harvest, warning that soaring fertilizer prices are putting the country’s upcoming planting season at risk.

The agency said the funding would enable up to 600,000 farming households to access certified wheat seed and fertilizer ahead of the winter wheat planting season, a critical period for Afghanistan’s main staple crop.

According to FAO, fertilizer prices have surged following disruptions in global markets linked to the 2026 Middle East crisis. Although fertilizer remains available, many Afghan farmers can no longer afford it, threatening wheat production in a country where soil fertility depends heavily on the use of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea.

“Afghanistan’s farmers have an opportunity to benefit from a stronger agricultural season after a harsh drought year, but rising fertilizer prices threaten to put that opportunity out of reach,” said Richard Trenchard, FAO Representative in Afghanistan. “This is not a supply crisis; it is an affordability crisis.”

FAO warned that many farmers may be forced to reduce fertilizer use or plant smaller areas, leading to lower crop yields, declining household food supplies and rising debt. The impact is expected to be particularly severe for women-headed households, returnee families and food-insecure rural communities.

Farmers in Nimroz province say they are already feeling the effects. Din Mohammad said shopkeepers who previously provided fertilizer on credit no longer do so, while another farmer, Wakil, said he faces the difficult choice between supporting his family and buying seed and fertilizer.

To address the challenge, FAO plans to provide targeted subsidies through private-sector suppliers using its biometric farmer registration and e-voucher platform, known as IDEA. More than 100,000 farmers have already been registered for the upcoming campaign.

The agency said support will initially focus on the most vulnerable households before expanding as additional funding becomes available.

FAO noted that combining certified seed with adequate fertilizer and good farming practices can increase wheat yields by 32.8 percent. It stressed that funding secured by mid-September would allow farmers to obtain essential inputs before planting begins, helping protect next year’s harvest, strengthen food security and reduce future humanitarian needs in a country where agriculture remains the main source of income for most of the population.

Afghan and Iranian officials have held talks in Herat on easing visa procedures, expanding bilateral trade, and improving transport and transit links at their shared border.

According to the Herat governor’s office, Iran’s Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan, Seyed Hassan Mortazavi, accompanied by the Iranian Consul General in Herat, met with Herat Governor Maulana Islamjar to discuss strengthening economic, trade, and transit cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

During the meeting, Islamjar stressed the importance of simplifying visa issuance for citizens of both countries, increasing trade through the Islam Qala border crossing, and resolving transportation challenges at the Dogharoon–Islam Qala border.

Mortazavi reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to closer coordination with Afghanistan, saying Tehran is working to facilitate visa issuance, improve cross-border trade, and increase the movement of commercial goods.

He added that efforts are also underway to address existing trade and transit challenges, highlighting the importance of stronger economic ties and continued cooperation between Afghanistan and Iran.

The Islam Qala crossing in Herat province is one of the busiest trade gateways between Afghanistan and Iran, serving as a key route for the movement of goods and playing a vital role in bilateral commerce between the two countries.

Italy and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have launched an emergency restoration project to protect the historic Blue Mosque (Rawza) in Mazar-e-Sharif after it was damaged in a recent earthquake.

The Italian Embassy in Afghanistan said the initiative is designed to safeguard one of the country’s most important cultural heritage sites while also creating employment opportunities for local communities involved in the restoration work.

The restoration effort follows a powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake that struck Afghanistan on November 3, 2025, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 530 others. The quake caused damage to homes, public buildings and several historic structures, including parts of the centuries-old Blue Mosque.

In a statement posted on its official X account on Thursday, the embassy said the project demonstrates the shared commitment of Italy and the United Nations to support the Afghan people and preserve Afghanistan’s rich cultural heritage.

The Blue Mosque, also known as the Rawza of Mazar-e-Sharif, is one of Afghanistan’s most renowned religious and historical landmarks, drawing thousands of worshippers and visitors each year.

Located in the heart of Balkh province in northern Afghanistan, the centuries-old shrine is celebrated for its striking Timurid-era architecture and is widely regarded as one of the country’s most significant cultural and architectural treasures.

The emergency restoration project aims to stabilise and repair earthquake-related damage, helping to ensure the long-term preservation of one of Afghanistan’s most treasured historic sites for future generations.