Prologue: Agar marg mehohi Kunduz bya (1)

October 2006

Landell Mills (2) asked me to visit their project in North Afghanistan – Kunduz River Basin Programme – to take photos and to write a reportage about the situation on ground. It is a fresh approach. Usually the organizations in Afghanistan communicate, using formal language: one can find many reports, figures, and schedules on Internet. But there is almost no information available, from individual point of view. I liked the idea; so I gladly traveled to Kunduz.

The first time I happened to visit Aqtepa village was with Jelle (3) last autumn. It was a significant day, the election day of the mirab (4). This has always been an essential duty: the mirab is responsible for maintaining irrigation canals and solving problems related to water distribution. In addition, Jelle was invited to visit because the construction of a new canal funded through KRBP was planned.

We raced for almost an hour over sand dunes. Only tire marks hinted of a settlement. Suddenly, from the top of a hill, there was a wonderful view of a green oasis, full of trees and fields.
Trips to the Kunduz river area are always an inspiring experience. The landscape is like a patchwork blanket, sewn by nature, its colors dependent on daytime and season. River valleys are full of artwork created by man with the irrigated plots of land. There are different colors as well, because of different crops.

Originally I was here during May, when the first crop had already been harvested. My next visit took place during the second harvest. It seemed that all villagers were out in the fields in order to harvest rice or to haul huge cotton bags.
There is plenty of fertile land in the Kunduz river area, where, if even a little bit of water is available, a good crop is guaranteed.


(1) If you want to die, go to Kunduz (local proverb in Dari language).
Afghans used to say: if you want to become rich, go to Kunduz. While malaria spread over Kunduz region in 19th century, a new proverb was born: if you want to die, go to Kunduz.
(2) Landell Mills Limited, a UK consulting company, have been contracted by the European Commission to provide assistance to the Afghan Government (the Ministry of Energy and Water) for implementation of the Kunduz River Basin Programme. See www.krbp.net for details on the project.
(3) Jelle Beekma – team leader of the Kunduz River Basin Programme (KRBP)
(4) mirab – watermaster; mir – master, ab – water (in Dari language)