LocationsRestoring Water, Reviving Livelihoods: The Inzergai Check Dam Brings Hope to Spin Boldak
April 26, 2026
A wider view of the Inzergai check dam, showing a massive amount of water which recharges the underground water which will directly impact the livelihood of Inzergai and its surrounding communities
In the drought-prone plains of Spin Boldak district in Kandahar province, water has always determined the rhythm of life. In recent years, however, that rhythm has been broken. Wells were drying up. Water systems stopped flowing. Wheat fields withered before harvest. For farming communities in Inzergai and surrounding villages, water scarcity was no longer a seasonal issue, but a chronic problem.
The problem was deeply felt in the village of Inzergai, whose name means “Land of Figs.” Recognizing the urgency and long-term impact of water security, UNDP supported the construction of the Inzergai Check Dam, funded by the Government of Japan, as part of its efforts to help local communities by strengthening climate resilience and restoring rural livelihoods.
The proposed dam would capture seasonal floodwater, prevent destructive runoff, and recharge groundwater downstream. Importantly, the intervention would benefit not only Inzergai village, but an estimated 700–800 surrounding villages, including Loy Kariz, one of the largest nearby communities with over 1,000 households.
As with all UNDP projects, community members were extensively consulted during the planning of the project. When community members were asked how the Inzergai Check Dam site was selected, their response was unanimous: “We identified this project collectively as our top priority. It was more important for us than roads or electricity because it directly impacts our livelihoods.”
Historically, Inzergai has been known for its fig trees growing along the nearby mountainside. Over time, however, prolonged water shortages forced farmers to change their cropping patterns.
According to humanitarian reports, southern Afghanistan has faced recurring drought and significant groundwater depletion over the past several years, severely affecting agriculture-based livelihoods. Kandahar, in particular, experienced declining rainfall and falling water tables, pushing rural communities toward economic distress.
For many years, poppy cultivation expanded across the area. The reason was largely economic and environmental. Compared to common crops, poppy required less water and generated significantly higher income. Farmers explained that while legal crops such as wheat and vegetables might generate around USD 400 per season, poppy cultivation could bring in up to USD 2,000.
“We identified this project collectively as our top priority. It was more important for us than roads or electricity because it directly impacts our livelihoods.”
Following the ban on poppy cultivation, farmers were left with limited income alternatives — and insufficient water to sustain legal crops. The situation became increasingly fragile. Ali Mohammad, a farmer from nearby Palyan village, recalls last year’s hardship: “I invested around 30,000 PKR (approximately USD 150) on my land, but due to no water, I sold the dried wheat to a shepherd for only 1,000 PKR” (around USD 5).
For households fully dependent on agriculture, failed harvests meant debt, food insecurity, and uncertainty.
Since the completion of the Inzergai Check Dam, communities have observed noticeable improvements in groundwater levels. In Loy Kariz village, residents report that water well depths previously measured at approximately 50 meters are now observed at around 25 meters — a significant and visible rise. While these figures are based on community observation rather than technical measurement, the improvement has restored confidence among farmers. “If this water remains until the summer,” one elder noted, “we can say that our livelihoods will be much improved and we will have a normal life again.”
The check dam functions by slowing seasonal floodwater and allowing it to infiltrate into the ground, replenishing aquifers that feed wells and traditional karizes. This groundwater recharge is critical in areas where rainfall is limited and surface water disappears quickly. With improved water availability, farmers are now focusing entirely on legal crops. The community currently cultivates 25 varieties, including wheat, barley, onions, garlic, cumin, okra, pumpkin, eggplant, melon, and figs. Already, some seasonal crops have been harvested following the dam’s completion. Farmers are preparing for the upcoming summer season with cautious optimism.
Ali Mohammad now expresses hope for the coming year: “We are 80 percent sure that next year, by investing 30,000 PKR, (around 100 USD) I can generate 500,000 PKR (around USD 2,000) from my land”. For families that had nearly abandoned cultivation due to water shortages, this confidence represents a transformative shift.
The hope for the villagers around the dam is that continued rainfall and sustained groundwater recharge will eventually restore flow to traditional karez (underground irrigation) systems, which for now remain dry.
Community members emphasize that household drinking water remains the top priority. “The main use of the water will always be drinking water first, and then irrigation,” they explained. Wells and bore wells are the primary sources of domestic water.
The Inzergai Check Dam represents more than a physical structure. It is:
- A climate resilience measure in a drought-affected region
- A livelihood restoration intervention
- A groundwater recharge solution
- A catalyst for agricultural transition
- A source of stability for hundreds of villages
In a context where water scarcity once pushed farmers toward unsustainable coping mechanisms, improved water access now enables a transition toward legal, diversified agriculture.
