LocationsA Canal Brings Life Back to Noorzai Village
September 16, 2025
In Baghlan Province, Markazi District, families once feared losing their farms to floods and drought. The old canal in Noorzai village, which served five nearby villages, had been badly damaged. Water no longer reached many fields and without reliable irrigation, farmers struggled to grow crops, children’s education was at risk, and families worried about their future. At other times, floods threatened the local school and the only road connecting the community.
In 2025, the canal was repaired through the JICA-funded WE-ACT project under UNDP’s ABADEI programme. Over 12 weeks, the canal was rebuilt with stone walls, concrete, and protective lining. Today, it stretches 160 meters, 1.8 meters high and 1.5 meters wide, carrying steady water to the fields.
For Abdul Rahman (name changed), a farmer from Noorzai, the canal means survival. “This canal means more than water,” he said. “It means better harvests, safer schools, and a reliable road. Our children and our land are safe again.”
The canal now irrigates hundreds of hectares year-round, supporting crops like wheat, corn, cotton, rice, beans, melons, watermelons, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. More than 1,330 households across five villages Noorzai, Zamankhil, Shaguli, Shashkal, and Darakhil now benefit directly. Farmers expect higher yields, and families are more hopeful about the future.
The project was carried out on a ‘cash for work’ basis, creating 1,005 labor days for 58 local workers, many of them unskilled, who each worked for an average 17 days. This gave families much-needed income in a region where jobs are scarce.
But the impact goes beyond Noorzai. Across Afghanistan, small but well-planned community projects like this one play a big role in rebuilding lives. They protect farmland from floods, keep children in school, and give families reasons to stay in their villages instead of leaving in search of work. They also support Afghanistan’s long-term stability by strengthening food production and local economies.
The WE-ACT project shows how community-driven solutions can address urgent needs like water, jobs, and infrastructure, while also preparing villages for the challenges of tomorrow.
With the support of UNDP and JICA, Noorzai’s canal is no longer broken. It is part of a broader effort to build stronger, safer communities carrying water, work, and hope for thousands of people in Baghlan, and serving as a model for villages across Afghanistan.