Afghanistan Development: Poverty and Major Crop Production (GAO-10-756SP), an E-supplement to GAO-10-368

This document is an E-supplement to GAO-10-368. This e-supplement provides additional information on regional and provincial poverty and major crops produced in Afghanistan.

As reported in GAO-10-368, between 2007 and 2008, Afghanistan had a national poverty rate of 36 percent. Approximately 9 million Afghans are living at or below the poverty rate--the level of per capita consumption at which the members of the household can be expected to meet their basic needs, such as food and housing. During 2007/2008, the poverty rate in Afghanistan ranged from a low of 23 percent in the Southwest region to a high of 45 percent in the East and West-central regions. For the 34 provinces only poverty rate ranges were available. As reported in GAO-10-368, between 2007 and 2008 in Afghanistan, wheat was the most frequently cited primary crop produced during the summer planting season, followed by opium and potatoes on irrigated land and cotton and barley on rain-fed land, corn, sorghum, and rice were grown on irrigated land during the winter planting season. Some households also grew fruit and nut trees and grapes.

Following the withdrawal of US and coalition forces from Afghanistan, in August 2021 the State Department requested that GAO temporarily remove and review reports on Afghanistan to protect the safety of individuals associated with US assistance or programs. As a result of that review, GAO decided to redact some information from this report.