The Role of Agriculture in Demographic Changes in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan: Sociological Perspective

Main Article Content

Ramazan Ahmadi

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of agriculture on demographic changes in Bamyan Province. Its objectives include analyzing the economic impact on the population, exploring migration patterns, examining demographic shifts, identifying challenges and opportunities for development, and offering policy recommendations for sustainability. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research involved 400 randomly selected farmers for quantitative data, complemented by focus groups and interviews with 20 experts and educated individuals. Ethical standards and confidentiality were maintained through informed consent. Findings indicate that agriculture, as the primary livelihood, faces challenges such as drought, declining yields, and limited government support, which negatively affect farmers’ quality of life. After the fall of the republic, agricultural activity increased mainly due to economic necessity and migration back to rural areas amid urban unemployment and economic crises. However, migration to cities and abroad continues because of limited job opportunities and security issues. Climate change and inadequate support further threaten agricultural sustainability, significantly impacting Bamyan’s economic and demographic landscape.

Article Details

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

Ahmadi, R. (2025). The Role of Agriculture in Demographic Changes in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan: Sociological Perspective. Journal of Contemporary Philosophical and Anthropological Studies, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.59652/jcpas.v3i3.541

References

Ahmadi, R. (2025). Opportunities and Challenges in Agricultural Product Marketing: A Sociological Analysis of Bamyan Province, Afghanistan. Journal of Economics, Innovative Management and Entrepreneurship, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.59652/jeime.v3i1.467 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59652/jeime.v3i1.467

Ahmadi, R., & Hikmat, C. A. (2024). The Factors of the Fall of the Republic Government and Political Crisis in Afghanistan: A Survey of Public Attitudes. Journal of Contemporary Philosophical and Anthropological Studies, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.59652/jcpas.v2i1.125 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59652/jcpas.v2i1.125

ALFRED. (2024). Gross Domestic Product Per Capita for Afghanistan. https://alfred.stlouisfed.org/series?seid=PCAGDPAFA646NWDB

Ali, H., Shafi M. M., Rehman, M. U., & Jadoon, M. A. (2015). Causes and Effects of Rural-Urban Migration in Rural Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. Arts and Social Sciences Journal, 6(5). DOI: 10.4172/2151-6200.1000144 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2151-6200.1000144

Azar, A., Mahboubi, G., & Salahi Ranbari, M. (2021). Investigating the factors influencing the Reverse Migration from Tabriz metropolis to the Suburbs and adjoining villages. Journal of Geography and Planning, 24(74), 29-41. DOI: 10.22034/gp.2021.39176.2597

Central Statistics Organization. (2013). Socio-Demographic and Economic Survey Bamyan. Kabul, Afghanistan. https://afghanistan.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Socio-demographic%20and%20Economic%20Survey%20Bamiyan%202013.pdf

Díaz Baca, M. F., Moreno Lerma, L., Burkart, S., & Triana Ángel, N. (2024). Why do rural youth migrate? Evidence from Colombia and Guatemala. Frontiers in sociology, 9, 1439256. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1439256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1439256

Directorate of Economy of Bamyan Province. (2019). Profile of Bamyan Province (Economic and Social Outlook). Ministry of Economy, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. https://moec.gov.af/sites/default/files/2019-10/Bamyan%20Province%20Book%20Cover.pdf [in Persian]

Eshetu, F., Haji, J., Ketema, M., & Mehare, A. (2023). Impact of rural out-migration on poverty of households in southern Ethiopia. Cogent Economics & Finance, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2023.2169996 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2023.2169996

Fahad, S., Ali, A., Urooge, S., Hanan, F., & Naushad, M. (2024). Reasons of Agriculture Land Conversion into Non-Agriculture Activities: A Case of Rural Area of District Peshawar. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 13(2), 1410-1421. https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2024.13.2.112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2024.13.2.112

Ghobadi, N., Koettl, J., & Vakis, R. (2005). Moving Out of Poverty: Migration Insights from Rural Afghanistan. Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU).

Hakim, A. A., & Boz, I. (2019). Influencing Factors of Rural Families’ Migration to Urban Area: The Case of Kabul, Afghanistan. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 37(4). DOI: 10.9734/ajaees/2019/v37i430286 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2019/v37i430286

Hasell, J., & Arriagada, P. (2022). From $1.90 to $2.15 a day: the updated International Poverty Line. OurWorldinData.org. https://ourworldindata.org/from-1-90-to-2-15-a-day-the-updated-international-poverty-line

Hikmat, C. A., & Ahmadi, R. (2023). The Impact of University Closures on Students’ Motivation After the Fall of the Afghan Government by the Taliban. Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 6(4), 47-59. DOI: 10.31014/aior.1991.06.04.444 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.06.04.444

Khanam, M., Pervez, A. K. M. K., & Rahman, M. M. (2024). Farmers’ Insights on the Migration from Rural to Urban Areas in Bangladesh. Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 22(10), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.9734/arjass/2024/v22i10580 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/arjass/2024/v22i10580

Lombamo, T. (2021). Reviewing Climate Change Related Shifts in the Agricultural System and Livelihood of the Farming Community. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 11(5), 45-54. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-5-05

Mustafizur Rahman, K. M. & Chowdhury, S. K. (2012). Poverty And Rural-Urban Migration. Unnayan Onneshan. https://unnayan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Poverty-and-Rural-Urban-Migration.pdf

Naseri, A. K., & Jauhar, S. (2024). Macroeconomic Impact of Foreign Remittances on Afghanistan’s Agriculture Sector. Journal of Natural Science Review, 2(Special.Issue), 246–264. https://doi.org/10.62810/jnsr.v2iSpecial.Issue.128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.62810/jnsr.v2iSpecial.Issue.128

Paudel, D. P., & Paudel, T. (2022). Returnee Migrants’ Reintegration into Agriculture in Nepal after COVID-19 Pandemic. The Third Pole: Journal of Geography Education, 22(01), 97–108. https://doi.org/10.3126/ttp.v22i01.52575 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/ttp.v22i01.52575

Rana, M. S. & Qaim, M. (2024). Patterns of temporary rural migration: A study in northern Bangladesh. World Development, 128, 106718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106718 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106718

Sabri, A., Abdulrahimzai, S., Witteveen, L. M., Lie, R., & Meulen, S. (2017). Enhancing women’s participation in agricultural education in Afghanistan through distance education by the National Agricultural Education College (NAEC) Afghanistan. International Women Online Journal of Distance Education, 6(2), 67-78. http://www.wojde.org/FileUpload/bs295854/File/06_62.pdf

Saha, S., Alam, M.J., Al Abbasi, A. A., Begum, I. A. & Rola‐Rubzen, M. F. (2025). Shifting Landscape of Rural Transformation in Bangladesh: Exploring the Interplay of Non‐Farm GDP, Infrastructure and Education. Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, 12(1), e70011. https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.70011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.70011

Saleem, S., & Raouf, M. E. (2011). Sustainable Agricultural Development and the Challenges Facing Agricultural Education in Afghanistan. Journal of Developments in Sustainable Agriculture, 6, 45-49.

Tavva, S., Abdelali-Martini, M., Aw-Hassan, A., Rischkowsky, B., Tibbo, M., & Rizvi, J. (2013). Gender Roles in Agriculture: The Case of Afghanistan. Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 20(1), 111-134. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971521512465939 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0971521512465939

Vercillo, S., Frayne, B. (2025). Urban-Rural Migration, Young People, and Agricultural Development in Northern Ghana. In J. Crush, A. Chikanda, S. Ramachandran (eds) New Directions in South-South Migration. International Perspectives on Migration (pp. 189-208). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-9715-8_11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-9715-8_11

Yar, F. G. M., & Zazia, J. G. (2024). Obstacles and Challenges of Rural Development in Afghanistan: Examining Problems and Solutions: A Review. Formosa Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 3(9), 3639–3656. https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v3i9.11564 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v3i9.11564

Most read articles by the same author(s)