Province 30 of 34 | North

Sar-e Pul سرپل

A largely rainfed and pastoral province with weak roads in the south. Sangcharak and Sozma Qala are the rural catchments with the most producers.

Capital: Sar-e Pol
Region: North
Area: 14,973 km²
Population 2025–26: 678,598
Density: 45 per km²
Districts: 7

Map of candidate marketplace sites and their road catchments in Sar-e Pul — Orange pin: candidate site. Olive shading: 60-minute catchment (dotted line: 30 minutes). Square: provincial center. Circle: existing market. Brown shading: population density.

US$ 5.8 m

base-case annual turnover (range US$ 2.9 m to US$ 8.7 m)

31,843

addressable producer households (37,437 within 60 min)

310,958

underserved rural people brought within 60 min

188

direct jobs, base case (+301 indirect)

Potential marketplace network Estimated

1Tukzar Market town

District: Sangcharak

Producer marketplace and aggregation center

To nearest existing market: 38 km, 101 min

Producer HH ≤60 min: 29,509

35.9568, 66.4283
2Tarkhuj Market town

District: Balkhab

Producer marketplace and aggregation center

To nearest existing market: 40 km, 205 min

Producer HH ≤60 min: 4,822

35.5017, 66.5064
3Pasnay Market town

District: Kohistanat

Producer marketplace and aggregation center

To nearest existing market: 34 km, 158 min

Producer HH ≤60 min: 3,105

35.7666, 65.7649

#	Site	District	Likely role	Lat, Lon	To nearest existing market	Producer HH ≤60 min
1	Tukzar Market town	Sangcharak	Producer marketplace and aggregation center	35.9568, 66.4283	38 km 101 min	29,509
2	Tarkhuj Market town	Balkhab	Producer marketplace and aggregation center	35.5017, 66.5064	40 km 205 min	4,822
3	Pasnay Market town	Kohistanat	Producer marketplace and aggregation center	35.7666, 65.7649	34 km 158 min	3,105

Local products and producer groups Strong secondary

Rainfed wheat
Sheep & goats (karakul)
Melon
Almond
Flax & sesame

Farming system: Livestock & cereal (US$ 600 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 Tukzar	23,778	11,980	5,459	29,509	24,783	94%
2 Tarkhuj	4,863	548	1,430	4,822	4,618	100%
3 Pasnay	1,697	1,845	3,484	3,105	2,441	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: All 3 sites on a main road
Hard-standing, parking and safe entry from the highway
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 rainfed wheat, sheep & goats (karakul) with pallets and pest control
Cold storageEstimated
Current situation: Rare outside major cities
Not a first-phase priority; drying yards and ventilated stores instead
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	All 3 sites on a main road	Hard-standing, parking and safe entry from the highway	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 rainfed wheat, sheep & goats (karakul) with pallets and pest control	Estimated
Cold storage	Rare outside major cities	Not a first-phase priority; drying yards and ventilated stores instead	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$ 1.9 m	US$ 975 k	US$ 2.9 m	124	198
Base	20%	US$ 3.8 m	US$ 2 m	US$ 5.8 m	188	301
High	30%	US$ 5.7 m	US$ 2.9 m	US$ 8.7 m	252	403

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 (67–68) | Method, assumptions and sources