Abdul Sattar, a sixty-year-old farmer from Siyawushan village in Guzara district of Herat province, begins his day by aligning solar panels to capture sunlight, using solar energy to pump water from underground to irrigate his rice fields. Rice, a crop that demands abundant water, keeps its roots submerged for four continuous months, and the persistence of such cultivation is placing immense pressure on the limited groundwater resources in Siyawushan.
Experts warn that expanding deep well drilling and using solar-powered pumps contributes to aquifer depletion and, over time, may cause land subsidence, endangering the safety of local communities. Abdul Sattar explains that in the past, one well sufficed for irrigating ten jeribs of land, but now the groundwater has dropped so much that he must drill a separate well for each jerib. He adds:
“Previously, I cultivated ten jeribs of rice, but this year, due to groundwater scarcity and reduced rainfall, I planted only five.”
Each well on Abdul Sattar’s land reaches approximately forty meters in depth and is spaced about fifty meters apart, equipped with six to eight independent solar panels. The cost for each panel is around 6,500 Afghanis, and the total investment for drilling, mounting, and solar panels amounts to roughly one lakh Afghanis. Despite this expenditure, rice yields are modest, and income barely covers the cost of water and land maintenance.
Excessive water use has already led to some wells drying up in Siyawushan, heightening fears of complete depletion. According to local water experts, each jerib of rice consumes an average of 11,000–13,000 cubic meters of water, including preparation, transplanting, and full crop growth — a vital resource in a region with severe water scarcity.
The use of solar panels for water extraction is rapidly spreading across Afghanistan. While farmers benefit from reduced water costs, easy access to groundwater has accelerated consumption, intensifying the water crisis in areas like Guzara district. Abdul Wadood, a 52-year-old farmer from the Kourt area of Siyawushan, recalls:
“Three years ago, I drilled a 30-meter well for two jeribs of farmland and installed six solar panels. But now, the groundwater level has dropped so much that wells must be deeper.”
Facing dwindling water resources, some farmers have adopted modern drip irrigation systems. Ghafur, a farmer in Pul Malan, Guzara, equipped 25 jeribs of his farmland with drip irrigation at a cost of 95,000 Afghanis. He explains:
“Before using drip irrigation, water was wasted, and parts of my fields remained dry. Now, all lands are irrigated uniformly, preventing water loss.”
Hameedullah Yalani, a water resource management specialist, told *Khate-Nakhost* that land subsidence and even the risk of depopulation in certain areas are direct consequences of excessive groundwater extraction. He emphasized:
“The primary solution is proper water management. Afghanistan’s Water Law must be revised and fully enforced. Installing water meters in wells, restricting access, and strict oversight of solar wells are essential to prevent a future crisis.”
Due to reduced surface water, rice cultivation in Herat has also been limited. Bashir Ahmad Ahmadi, Director of Agricultural Affairs at the Herat Agriculture Department, stated that currently about 2,000 hectares of rice are cultivated in Herat, mainly in the districts of Pashtun Zarghun, Guzara, Injil, Obe, and Chesht Sharif. The Ministry of Agriculture is promoting alternative crops like saffron, peanuts, sesame, and legumes to replace water-intensive rice.
Recent rainfall in Herat has been insufficient, with only 150 millimeters last year compared to an average requirement of 250 millimeters, heightening concerns among local and international organizations. On October 5, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, the governor of Herat, announced plans to install water meters in all wells across the province. He warned that overuse of water for agriculture and industry is causing serious concern and urged citizens to manage rainwater responsibly, including constructing infiltration wells at homes.
Globally, water scarcity is escalating. The United Nations reports that by 2050, over 5 billion people will live in areas with severe water stress, and nearly 40% of the world’s population will face water shortages. Over-extraction of groundwater, climate change, and population growth pose severe threats to food security and agriculture worldwide.
