Kunduz pistachio yield up by 300 tonnes

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Pistachio production increased by 300 tonnes this year in northern Kunduz province as compared to last year’s harvest, an official said on Thursday.

Agriculture Director Abdul Basir Faqiri told Pajhwok Afghan News the dried fruit yield was more satisfactory this year and orchard owners were happy with the profit. 

Pistachio orchards are found in Imam Sahib, Chahar Dara, Aliabad and Khanabad districts. Faqiri said in the past, people would collect drupes off trees at an improper time.

But the formation of committees, tasked with spreading awareness among farmers regarding the perfect harvest time, had resulted in increased pistachio yield.

Atta Mohammad, a farmer, said: “My half an acre land produced 500 kilograms of pistachio last year, but the production was more than 700 kg this year.”

nh/ma