Facing a severe food shortage, Afghanistan joined with the United Nations on Tuesday to appeal for more than 76 million dollars to help 2.5 million people affected by drought.
"Afghanistan is facing an imminent food crisis due to inadequate rainfall in April and May and an expected shortfall in this year's rain-fed wheat harvest," the appeal said.
Afghanistan, which has long been plagued by drought and food insecurity, had hoped for a better year after a difficult 2005.
But Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili told a press conference: "We came to the conclusion that the current drought is more acute than last year."
He warned that a failure to tackle the crisis could see more farmers begin growing lucrative but illegal opium poppies, which requires less water than other crops.
"The enemies of Afghanistan will misuse (the crisis) and give people money and recruit them for their benefit," he said.
This year the country is expected to consume six million tonnes of cereals of which it will produce only 4.8 tonnes.
The appeal covers a six-month period from July to December.
In anticipation of the appeal, the US government announced Monday it was contributing 20 million dollars in food aid to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan.
