Province 11 of 34 | South
Helmand هلمند
Canal-irrigated farming along the Helmand river supports high volumes of wheat, cotton and melons. Collection and grading markets in upper Helmand shorten trips to Lashkar Gah.
- Capital
- Lashkar Gah
- Region
- South
- Area
- 60,752 km²
- Population 2025–26
- 1,580,345
- Density
- 26 per km²
- Districts
- 13
Potential marketplace network Estimated
-
1Nahr-e Saraj District center
District: Nahri Sarraj
Producer marketplace and aggregation center
To nearest existing market: 32 km, 68 min
Producer HH ≤60 min: 31,854
-
2Kajaki Market town
District: Kajaki
Producer marketplace and aggregation center
To nearest existing market: 81 km, 175 min
Producer HH ≤60 min: 22,909
-
3Musa Qala District center
District: Musa Qala
Producer marketplace and aggregation center
To nearest existing market: 95 km, 208 min
Producer HH ≤60 min: 17,418
| # | Site | District | Likely role | Lat, Lon | To nearest existing market | Producer HH ≤60 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nahr-e Saraj District center | Nahri Sarraj | Producer marketplace and aggregation center | 31.7984, 64.5837 | 32 km 68 min | 31,854 |
| 2 | Kajaki Market town | Kajaki | Producer marketplace and aggregation center | 32.3008, 65.0964 | 81 km 175 min | 22,909 |
| 3 | Musa Qala District center | Musa Qala | Producer marketplace and aggregation center | 32.3616, 64.7735 | 95 km 208 min | 17,418 |
Local products and producer groups Strong secondary
- Wheat
- Cotton
- Melon & watermelon
- Maize
- Onion & vegetables
- Pomegranate
Farming system: Irrigated horticulture (US$ 950 sales per participating household)
Producer groups: smallholder farmers, livestock and dairy keepers, women's household enterprises, small processors and traders
Crafts: Embroidery, mats
Market catchment and accessibility Estimated
| Site | HH ≤30 min | HH 30–60 min | HH 60–90 min | Producer HH ≤60 min | Addressable | Underserved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nahr-e Saraj | 22,677 | 17,460 | 71,712 | 31,854 | 23,610 | 85% |
| 2 Kajaki | 12,258 | 13,138 | 19,926 | 22,909 | 18,195 | 100% |
| 3 Musa Qala | 12,412 | 7,113 | 27,094 | 17,418 | 14,806 | 100% |
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: 2 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, cotton 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 | 2 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, cotton 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$ 5.4 m | US$ 1.7 m | US$ 6.8 m | 212 | 339 |
| Base | 20% | US$ 10.8 m | US$ 3.4 m | US$ 13.7 m | 363 | 581 |
| High | 30% | US$ 16.1 m | US$ 5.1 m | US$ 20.5 m | 515 | 824 |
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 (29–30) | Method, assumptions and sources