ZARANJ (Pajhwok): There has been 80 percent increase in the watermelon and melon yield this year compared to the previous year in southwestern Nimroz province, an official said on Sunday.
Akbar Sharifi, head of the Agriculture and Tajikistan.
He said in the ongoing year there was expectation of bumper production and more than 600,000 tonnes of production was estimated of which 500,000 tonnes was watermelon and 100,000 tonnes was melon.
Sharifi termed the availability of enough water in Helmand River and Lashkargah Cannal that went through Zaranj.
He said the export of watermelon was going on to south Asian and Central Asian countries.
Khawaja Amin, a farmer, who grew watermelon and melon on 100 acres of land said he collected 300-400 tonnes of crop so far.
He said he might collected more crop had the farms not been affected by the dangerous diseases.
Aqa Mohammad Fazli, the Chakhansor administrative chief, said Nimroz claimat best suited the crop of watermelon and melon and the crop produced good results.
He said he shared the problems of farmers with agriculture department and other concerned authorities hoping that the problems would be addresses soon.
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