A number of residents speaking to TOLOnews complained about the high price of primary items in the markets, saying they are concerned about providing food for their families.

According to the residents, the economic downturn and the high prices have worried them as winter approaches.

“Domestic production is not enough, the prices are high because the goods are imported,” said Abdul Maroof, a shopkeeper.

Meanwhile, a number of farmers said that the recent drought has caused a serious decrease in yield compared to past years. They say this year’s drought is more severe than previous years, and the wells which were used to irrigate the farmlands have dried up.

“Five years ago, the situation was good because water flowed from the mountains, now the wells and springs are dried up,” said Nasratullah, a farmer.

Droughts and political problems in the country are cited as the reason for an unprecedented rise in the price of primary goods, mainly food, in the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) meanwhile said that Afghanistan is an importing country, and most of its goods are imported from neighboring countries.

“Wheat and rice are imported from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan. We need these goods because Afghanistan is not a self-sufficient country,” said acting MAIL minister Abdulrahman Rashid.

Although Afghanistan is an agricultural country, each year it imports food to meet the demand in the markets.