According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 6.5 million people face food insecurity in Afghanistan.
In 2006, some areas of Afghanistan faced a food crisis when demand for food surpassed supply, FAO reported.
Floods and torrential rainfall have caused extensive damage to agriculture and livestock.
Acute malnutrition (severe weight loss) affects about 5 to 10 percent of children under five, according to the Afghan government and the UN. Acute malnutrition affects mostly children under two, and is often caused by diarrhea and other hygienic problems.
Afghanistan feeds a majority of its population through an underdeveloped agriculture system. Afghanistan is about 90 percent self-sufficient in cereal production, but it has a long way to go to properly feed its growing population, aid officials say.
Afghanistan needs to preserve its natural resources improve water and irrigation management, diversify agricultural production, expand its fruit and vegetable production, improve livestock production and help households diversify their sources of income, the FAO said.
For more information, please see:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/18a420db2b7c1a2d8fd9a19acd3cef9f.htm
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73131
