Balkh agriculture yields go 40 percent up this year

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Department of northern Balkh province on Monday reported a 40 percent increase in agricultural yields in the province this year, compared to the previous year.

Acting Agriculture Director Zabihullah Zwabin told Pajhwok Afghan News during an interview that water shortage was a huge problem for Balkh growers.

He said agriculture production increased this year due to rains, bringing positive changes to farmers’ lives in the province.

Zwabin said his department spent 80 percept of its development budget during the current year.

He said they planned to distribute around 13,000 metric tons of wheat to farmers in the province until the end of this year.

He said around 6,500 acres of land had been sown with different fruit trees in the province.

The official said due to fresh rains, agriculture harvests recorded a by 40 percent surge this year.

Zwabin said, “The number of honey bee boxes reached 2,000 this year which produced five tons of honey, 60 percent up compared to last year.”

 He said they were trying their best to find suitable market for growers’ yields.

He listed shortage of water, insecurity, natural diseases and lack of cold shortages as major concerns of Balkh farmers.

He invited the private sector for investment in Balkh and hoped through private sector, the agriculture produces will further increase in future.

Pk/ma

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