The second phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal construction will be completed within the next five months, with the third phase set to begin shortly after, said Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, according to Ariananews.af.
“Qosh Tepa is one of the largest agricultural projects in the country,” Mujahid noted. “The first phase was completed last year, and the second is nearing completion, with work ongoing at the final section,” he added, citing information from the National Development Corporation (NDC).
The NDC reported significant progress on the project, including continued construction of the main dam, and efforts to finish the phase ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, local residents and farmers are urging the government to speed up the work. “We hope the canal will be completed soon so we can begin irrigating our land and harvesting crops,” said one farmer.
Originating in the Kaldar district of Balkh province and stretching to Andkhoy district in Faryab, the Qosh Tepa Canal measures 285 kilometers in length, 108 meters in width, and 8.5 meters in depth. With a flow capacity of 650 cubic meters per second, the canal will divert approximately 20.5 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Amu Darya River.
Once completed, the canal is expected to irrigate 550,000 hectares of land, bringing significant transformation to Afghanistan’s agricultural economy.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 9, 2025