Province 04 of 34 | North
Balkh بلخ
Agricultural hinterland of Mazar-i-Sharif, the northern trade hub with rail and road links to Uzbekistan. Rural marketplaces in the western and southern districts can feed export-oriented aggregators.
- Capital
- Mazar-i-Sharif
- Region
- North
- Area
- 14,285 km²
- Population 2025–26
- 1,595,814
- Density
- 112 per km²
- Districts
- 15
Potential marketplace network Estimated
-
1Char Bolak District center
District: Chahar Bolak
Aggregation hub linking to wholesale buyers
To nearest existing market: 38 km, 52 min
Producer HH ≤60 min: 72,882
-
2Keshindeh Market town
District: Kishindih
Producer marketplace and aggregation center
To nearest existing market: 68 km, 118 min
Producer HH ≤60 min: 22,908
-
3Dawlat Abad District center
District: Dawlatabad
Producer marketplace and aggregation center
To nearest existing market: 48 km, 105 min
Producer HH ≤60 min: 12,200
| # | Site | District | Likely role | Lat, Lon | To nearest existing market | Producer HH ≤60 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Char Bolak District center | Chahar Bolak | Aggregation hub linking to wholesale buyers | 36.8079, 66.6874 | 38 km 52 min | 72,882 |
| 2 | Keshindeh Market town | Kishindih | Producer marketplace and aggregation center | 36.0835, 66.8403 | 68 km 118 min | 22,908 |
| 3 | Dawlat Abad District center | Dawlatabad | Producer marketplace and aggregation center | 37.0729, 66.7799 | 48 km 105 min | 12,200 |
Local products and producer groups Strong secondary
- Wheat
- Melon & watermelon
- Cotton
- Sesame & flax
- Almond & apricot
- Karakul sheep
Farming system: Mixed farming (US$ 750 sales per participating household)
Producer groups: smallholder farmers, livestock and dairy keepers, women's household enterprises, small processors and traders
Crafts: Carpets, karakul pelts
Market catchment and accessibility Estimated
| Site | HH ≤30 min | HH 30–60 min | HH 60–90 min | Producer HH ≤60 min | Addressable | Underserved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Char Bolak | 16,842 | 127,056 | 42,772 | 72,882 | 24,436 | 28% |
| 2 Keshindeh | 7,706 | 20,095 | 16,193 | 22,908 | 16,281 | 98% |
| 3 Dawlat Abad | 3,973 | 11,222 | 19,327 | 12,200 | 8,467 | 95% |
HH = households of 7.7 people (ALCS 2016–17). The primary indicator is producer households within 60 minutes by road.
Infrastructure requirements
Road accessEstimated
Current situation: 1 of 3 sites on a main road; others on rural roads or tracks
All-weather access road, hard-standing and turning area for trucks
ElectricityStrong secondary
Current situation: Grid reaches about 40% of Afghans nationally; rural sites mostly off-grid
Solar plus battery for lighting, weighing, phone charging and cold rooms; grid tie where a line passes
Solar potentialStrong secondary
Current situation: About 300 sunny days a year; high irradiance nationwide
Rooftop PV on market sheds (indicative 20 to 60 kWp per site)
Internet & mobileAssumption
Current situation: Mobile connections equal 52% of the population; district centers usually covered
Mobile money and price-information kiosk; verify signal on site
Dry storageEstimated
Current situation: Few formal stores outside provincial centers
Warehouse for wheat, melon & watermelon with pallets and pest control
Cold storageEstimated
Current situation: Rare outside major cities
Solar cold room or evaporative store for fruit, vegetables and dairy
Water, sanitation & loadingAssumption
Current situation: Not assessed at site level
Borehole, washing area, separate latrines for women and men; loading bays, livestock pens, certified scales
| Infrastructure | Current situation | Requirement | Evidence status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road access | 1 of 3 sites on a main road; others on rural roads or tracks | All-weather access road, hard-standing and turning area for trucks | Estimated |
| Electricity | Grid reaches about 40% of Afghans nationally; rural sites mostly off-grid | Solar plus battery for lighting, weighing, phone charging and cold rooms; grid tie where a line passes | Strong secondary |
| Solar potential | About 300 sunny days a year; high irradiance nationwide | Rooftop PV on market sheds (indicative 20 to 60 kWp per site) | Strong secondary |
| Internet & mobile | Mobile connections equal 52% of the population; district centers usually covered | Mobile money and price-information kiosk; verify signal on site | Assumption |
| Dry storage | Few formal stores outside provincial centers | Warehouse for wheat, melon & watermelon with pallets and pest control | Estimated |
| Cold storage | Rare outside major cities | Solar cold room or evaporative store for fruit, vegetables and dairy | Estimated |
| Water, sanitation & loading | Not assessed at site level | Borehole, washing area, separate latrines for women and men; loading bays, livestock pens, certified scales | Assumption |
Economic opportunity and employment Estimated Assumption
| Scenario | Participation | Producer sales | Other trading | Total turnover | Direct jobs | Indirect jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 10% | US$ 3.7 m | US$ 1.4 m | US$ 4.8 m | 168 | 269 |
| Base | 20% | US$ 7.4 m | US$ 2.9 m | US$ 9.7 m | 275 | 440 |
| High | 30% | US$ 11.1 m | US$ 4.3 m | US$ 14.5 m | 383 | 613 |
Site columns are summed. The total is de-duplicated where catchments overlap.
Evidence
Population: strong secondary province totals, estimated catchments. Travel time: estimated from the OpenStreetMap road model. Products: strong secondary. Turnover and jobs: assumption parameters applied to estimated households. Site conditions: unknown until field validation.
Open these pages in the PDF (15–16) | Method, assumptions and sources