Wheat Value Chain in Garmser District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Abstract

This study was conducted in 2025 in the Garmser district, Helmand Province, under the title 'Wheat Value Chain'. The objectives of the research were to determine wheat production, identify available facilities in the wheat processing sector, and analyze wheat marketing. For this purpose, the Garmser district was purposively selected, and 210 farmers and 7 processing factories were randomly selected. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. The study found that the average wheat production for small, medium, and large farms was 2,120.4 kg, 4,636 kg, and 8,135.1 kg, respectively. The annual flour production of processing factories was found to be 848,250 kg. The study identified two main wheat marketing channels: (1) producers and consumers, and (2) producers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. The study concludes that wheat production in the Garmser district shows significant variation across farm sizes, with larger farms achieving substantially higher output, indicating the importance of farm scale and resource availability in improving productivity. Additionally, the presence of processing facilities with significant flour production capacity underscores the district’s potential for value addition along the wheat value chain. Furthermore, the analysis of marketing channels reveals a relatively simple structure dominated by direct sales and intermediary-based distribution, suggesting opportunities to improve market efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance farmers’ share of final consumer prices by improving market linkages and developing infrastructure.