According to Badghis officials, the yield of the province's pistachio crop this year plummeted 50 percent from 2012. They cited Taliban and Illegal Armed Group (IAG) activity in key areas, floods, premature and illegal harvesting as the major causes of the decline.

Every year, thousands of tons of pistachios are harvested from the forests of Badghis, which is Afghanistan's leading province for pistachio cultivation. Although Afghanistan is usually amongst the world's top pistachio producing countries, the significant drop in Badghis' output could change that this year.

"Last year we produced up to 16,000 tons of pistachios in the province, but this year we have only collected about 8,000 tons," said Hafizullah Binish, the of head of the Badghis Agriculture and Livestock Department.

Binish explained that in addition to cases of adverse weather, like floods, this year has seen insecurity prove the biggest hindrance to the traditionally strong pistachio business in Badghis.

"Our estimations indicate that pistachio forests cover about 27 to 30 thousand hectors of land, but, unfortunately, these forests are facing serious threats these days because of insecurity," Binish said.

Reportedly, Taliban insurgents and IAGs hide out and travel unencumbered through much of the rural and rugged terrain of the pistachio woodlands. In addition to causing damage to the crops and preventing access for many famers, insurgents, IAGs and Kuchis are said to pick pistachios off of private properties and sell them illegally.

Despite recent attempts to strengthen the hold of the Afghan security forces in Badghis, it remains one of the more lawless provinces in northern Afghanistan. Back in August, Badghis Governor Ahmadullah Alizai claimed the insurgent presence had grown over the past year and called for a greater efforts from District Governors and security officials to stabilize the province.

Thirty years ago Badghis' pistachio forests covered 95,000 hectors of land, according to Binish, but that figure has diminished roughly 70 percent by today's estimates.