The Impacts of Water Sector Reforms on Agricultural Productivity in Afghanistan

In 2009, Afghanistan enacted its Water Law based on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles and aimed at making agriculture a more dynamic driver of the national economy. Though the sector has huge potential for contributing to sustainable development, its dynamism is heavily dependent on the functionality and efficiency of irrigation, which accounts for 95 percent of total water consumption. The reforms introduced by the Water Law instigated new institutional frameworks and functional mechanisms at central, river, and sub-river basin levels in accordance with the IWRM principles. The reforms are focused on restructuring water management based on river and sub-river basins. This paper examines the impact of the reforms on agricultural productivity.