Pine nut, walnut yield up in Kapisa but no market for sale

MAHMODRAQI (Pajhwok): Local agriculture officials say that pine nut and walnut harvests have increased in central Kapisa province compared to last year’s yield.

However, orchard owners and sellers complain about poor market of the product and ask officials concerned to find market for the fruit.

According to local officials, 1,500 hectares of land contain pine nut trees and 1,200 hectares of land walnut trees in Najrab district of Kapisa.

Dr. Mohammad KazimNajrabi, agriculture director for Najrab district, said that their information showed pine nut harvests in the district had increased from 80 to 120 metric tons and walnut from 400 tons to 600 tons compared to the last year.

He said that the production of the fruit was less last year due to continued snowfall and rainfall as well as cold weather.

Najrabi said that the pine nut was exported to UAE, Pakistan and China while walnut was exported to Turkey, India and some other countries, but the fruit was not exported this year due to some problems.

He said that 60 acres of land was grown with paper-shell walnut in the last three years in the province.

Mahmod, a gardener in Najrab district of Kapisa who owns an orchard in 1.5 acres of land, said that his garden last year produced 280 kilograms of walnut compared to 385 kilograms this year.

However, he said that the market for the fruit was not good this year because of recent political changes in the country and suspension of exports.

Traders also complained about poor market for fruits this year and say that their prices also dropped compared to the past.

Dil Agha, one of pine nut traders said, “The market is very bad, there is no money, banks do not give money to people, if these problems not solved, businesses would stop.”

He said that seven kilograms of black pine nut was sold for 18,000 Afghanis last year but it was now sold for 10,000 Afghanis.

Traders say that recent political changes in the country were the reason behind poor market for fruits, asking officials concerned to find market for their products.

mds/ma