Land

Land (Zmaka; ځمکه)

Only about 12% of Afghanistan’s land is arable, and only 4% is irrigated. Considering that agriculture accounts for 85% of Afghans’ livelihoods, land is extremely valuable. Many Afghans, when calculating their wealth, will not include land, as it is too valuable to part with; to sell land is sometimes referred to as “selling father’s and grandfather’s bones.” (does anyone know this proverb in Pashto?)  Land disputes and claims go back hundreds of years in some cases. It is not just a commodity, but a part of the owner’s namus (نامس - honor).