Local officials in Herat report that to support farmers with the start of winter planting, water from the Salma Dam has been released for eight districts along the Harirod River.

According to them, over 21 days, Salma Dam water will be gradually distributed to thousands of farmers.

Jalil Ahmad Mohammadi, Director of Water Management for the Harirod-Murghab River Basin, said: “In the first phase, for six days and nights, water will be distributed to the districts of Kohsan, Zinda Jan, and Ghorian. In the second phase, six days and nights will be allocated to the districts of Guzara and Injil.”

While some farmers in parts of Herat continue their agricultural activities using deep-well water, many others depend on the Harirod River and lack the resources to dig deep wells or buy solar-powered pumps.

Ghulam Habib Hashimi, head of the Harirod River Water Users Association, said: “All winter or autumn planting in Herat province is irrigated by Salma Dam; there is no other water source. We are currently experiencing drought in Herat province along the Harirod basin.”

The release of water from Salma Dam during the planting season has been welcomed by farmers.
Some Herat farmers say that without this water, planting their fields would have been impossible.

Farmer Mir Agha said, “This water fully meets our needs for winter planting. We are grateful to God that He has given us the blessing of the Salma Dam, allowing us to irrigate our fields.”

Another farmer, Abdullah Sidi, said, “This is the time for winter planting—for wheat and barley. The land was extremely dry, and all the landowners, as well as the people of Herat, were anxious about how they would irrigate their crops.”

Officials state that due to rainfall and strong floods this year, a sufficient amount of water has been stored in the Salma Dam.

According to statistics, nearly 300 million cubic meters of usable water are currently stored in the Salma Dam. This water is delivered via 121 large canals to thousands of hectares of farmland and fruit orchards across eight districts in Herat.