Samangan almond yield up by 50 pc

AIBAK (Pajhwok): The almond yield in northern Samangan province has been estimated 3,000 tonnes this year with 557 million of revenue to be generated, an official said on Sunday.

Almond trees in Samangan existed on over 5,200 hectares of land, said Habib Humayon, Head of the Agriculture Department during an exclusive interview.

Habib said last year around 2,000 tonnes of almond produced in Samanangan while this year yield is expected to reach up to 3,000 tonnes.

He said the price of almond declined by 27 percent this year.

Humayon said keeping in mind the average price of almond, Samangan farmers would earn 557 million of afghanis revenue. The price of almond declined due to increase in production, he noted.

He said last seven kilogram of almond was accounted for 1,200 to 5,000 afghanis. These almonds included different types such as Sattar Baei, Khairuddini, Shakour Baei, Qambari, Sundaqi, Kaghazi, Sangak and others.

Farmer have been cherished over increase in the production of almond but at same time annoyed over the decline of price due to bumper production.

Haji Zia, a farmer from Aibak, the provincial capital, said he collected 1.7 tonnes of almond from 800 trees this year and earned 380,000 afghanis.

He complained against the low price of almond and said last year one kilomgram of Shakori almond was accounted for 1,850 but this year the same almond was accounted for 1,200 afghanis.

Rozi, one of the businessmen, linked the lower price of almond with increase in supply.

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