WFP report notes high food and fuel costs continue to pressure Afghan households

Rising food, fuel and agricultural input costs continue to strain Afghan households despite a relatively strong afghani (AFN), according to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) latest weekly market report.

The afghani traded at an average of 64.9 against the US dollar in the first week of October, remaining 2% stronger than a year earlier and 7% above its three-year average. However, several staple foods and essential agricultural inputs remained significantly more expensive than a year ago.

WFP’s report found that prices for Palawi rice were 17% higher than last year, while the lower-priced Sholae variety had risen by 31%. Cooking oil and sugar prices were also up 12% and 10%, respectively, while wheat grain and low-priced wheat flour were both 10% more expensive.

Fuel costs continued to add pressure, with diesel selling at an average of AFN 80.9 per litre, 3% higher than a year earlier and 14% above its three-year average. Fertiliser prices also remained elevated, with urea up 24% and diammonium phosphate (DAP) up 10% year-on-year.

The report highlighted growing pressure on household purchasing power as wages and employment opportunities weakened. Unskilled labour availability averaged just two days per week, 14% below the previous year and 21% below the three-year average. Daily wages for unskilled workers were also 5% lower than a year earlier.

As a result, an unskilled labourer’s daily wage could purchase an average of 9.9 kilograms of low-priced wheat flour, down 13% from a year earlier. The real purchasing power of unskilled labour households fell by 25% year-on-year and stood 30% below the three-year average.

Pastoralist households also faced declining purchasing power. The sale of a one-year-old female sheep could buy 260 kilograms of low-priced wheat flour, 12% less than a year earlier.

Some commodities recorded price declines during the week. Potato prices fell by 4.1%, onions by 3.1% and Palawi rice by 1.9%. However, potatoes remained 25% more expensive than a year earlier, while Palawi rice was 19% above its three-year average.

WFP said the in-kind food basket cost AFN 6,033 in the first week of October, 4% higher than a year earlier. The report also noted significant differences in prices between provinces, reflecting variations in transport costs, market supplies and seasonal availability.

The findings underscore continued pressure on Afghan households, as high essential commodity prices, weak labour availability and declining purchasing power limit access to food despite support from the stronger national currency.