Opening Markets for Afghan Farmers and SMEs

ACRP at the 2026 Exhibition

May 16, 2026

Group of men in suits around a table of honey jars at an outdoor market under a green canopy. — UNDP Afghanistan

In 2026, ACRP supported 34 SMEs, including 19 female-led enterprises, from Badghis, Helmand, and Kandahar to participate in the 34th Agricultural and Livestock Exhibition (Farmer Fair), held from 22–25 April 2026 at Badam Bagh Research Farm in Kabul. Under the theme “Modern Agriculture and Livestock as a Foundation for Food Security and Economic Growth,” the exhibition enabled SMEs to showcase dry fruits, processed agricultural products, and handicrafts, offering a vital alternative livelihood for farmers affected by the poppy ban.

Photograph of a person at a stall with pastries, in front of an ACRP banner. — UNDP Afghanistan

Fatima Akbari, owner of Fatima Akbari Food Processing Company in Kandahar, highlighted the exhibition’s importance for women entrepreneurs. “Participating in the exhibition is very useful for marketing our products, especially for us businesswomen in Kandahar, because we cannot go to the markets and sell our products directly. At the exhibition, we can directly contact customers and get their opinions on our products, which can help us determine what the market demand is. We are also introduced to many traders from all over Afghanistan and regional countries, and we make contracts, which helps us to send our products all over the country and also export them to other countries.”

People in traditional clothing queue at outdoor information booths with banners. — UNDP Afghanistan

“For us women of Kandahar, participating in this exhibition has a very positive effect on our morale because we always work indoors. This trip helps us a lot mentally.”

Gulbuddin, a farmer from Langar Sharif cluster, Qadis district, Badghis Province, said:

“Building connections with traders and finding reliable markets has made a real difference for us as farmers in Qadis district. By learning from others’ experiences and receiving support from organizations, we are improving the quality of our products and expanding our opportunities. I believe that if we continue to promote our local products, they can successfully replace imported goods.”

Funded by the EU, the Afghanistan Community Resilience Programme (ACRP) supports former poppy farmers through an integrated approach focused on sustainable livelihoods, water resource management, disaster risk reduction, and poppy cultivation monitoring. The programme enhances market access for MSMEs and agribusinesses, prioritizing at least 50% women’s participation through exhibitions, trade fairs, B2B engagements, and trade missions.

Group of suited men walking past a building with green trim and banner displays. — UNDP Afghanistan

ACRP achievements include:

Participation of Afghan exporters in regional and national agri-food exhibitions, resulting in confirmed and potential trade deals
Grants to 20 entrepreneurs for value-added processing
Engagement of 30 traders and farmers in six trade events
Distribution of agricultural inputs and value addition packages to 265 farmers
Construction of 40 commercial greenhouses benefiting 180 individuals
Development of seven agribusiness business plans
Installation of three refrigerated storage containers (25 MT each)
Training of 238 farmers through Farmer Field Schools on pre- and post-harvest practices

Through these interventions, ACRP strengthens agricultural value chains, improves market integration, and builds long-term economic resilience for communities across southern and western Afghanistan.

Person with blurred face wearing red cap and teal jacket at outdoor market with green banners. — UNDP Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Community Resilience Programme (ACRP) aims to restore livelihoods through income-generating activities, vocational training, community-based light infrastructure development, and disaster preparedness, thereby helping communities with sustainable economic activities. ACRP aims to address the most critical needs in three provinces of western (Badghis) and southern (Helmand and Kandahar) Afghanistan through a comprehensive, three-pronged approach to promote community resilience, focusing on sustainable diversified livelihoods, water management, and disaster risk reduction. ACRP is a three-year initiative (September 2024 – September 2027) being implemented under the lead of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the generous support of the European Union (EU).