KABUL, Irrigation and Livestock Department of central MaidanWardak province says 35 percent of harvest is lost due to lack of cold storages, market and the conflict.
Provincial agriculture director Ahsanullah Bambwal in an exclusive interview told Pajhwok Afghan News that Maidan Wardak was among Afghanistan’s agricultural provinces.
“It is a green province and every kind of fruits, vegetables and grains are cultivated here but unfortunately there are no cold storages in the province,” he said.
He added there were only two cold storages — one located in Maidan Shahr with the capacity of storing 500 tones of products and the second is in Sayedabad district with 1000 tons storage capacity but the two storages are without electricity.
According to Bambwal, farmers work hard in their fields during cultivation process but unfortunately the prices of their produce usually decrease during harvest season.
The market of fresh fruits and vegetables has been bearish due to lack of cold storages, he said, adding insecurity and conflict had also a negative impact on their livelihood.
He informed during apple harvest season a kilogram of Iranian apples was sold for 70 afghanis equal to the price of seven kilograms of apples produced in MaidanWardak province as a result of the above reasons.
“There is the plan that a cold storage with a capacity of 3000 metric ton would be established next year”, he cited.
Zabihullah, a grower, complaining about lack of cold storages, said he sold his harvests at very low prices. He urged the government to set up cold storages in order to meet the consumer need inside the country and develop farmers’ economy.
Akhtar Mohammad Tahiri, a member of the provincial council, said the conflict and clashes between security forces and insurgents often inflicted huge losses on agricultural crops and orchards in the province. He said water was enough this year but insecurity affected their affairs.
“DC artilleries are fired into field by government forces that affect crops and orchards,” he said, adding that he had shared the issue with local authorities several times but to no avail.
sa/ma
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