Nangarhar produces over 93000 tonnes of vegetables this year

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Since the beginning of this year, more than 93000 tons of fresh vegetables have been produced in eastern Nangarhar province, showing an increase over last year’s produce, officials say.

Vegetables produced in Nangarhar are sent to other provinces besides Kabul. But farmers say due to the lack of cold storages and foreign market, vegetables are sold at a very low price, not even covering the costs.

Ikramullah Dalgir, Horticulture Officer at Nangarhar Agriculture and Livestock Department, told Pajhwok that more than 93 thousand tons of fresh vegetables had been harvested and presented to the market in the province this year.

He added: "This year, about 20,000 metric tons of tomatoes, 22,000 metric tons of cucumbers, 15,000 tons of asparagus, 14,000 tons of potatoes, and 20,000 tons of onions were produced.”

According to his information, fresh vegetables are grown in Sararod, Khogyani, Rodat, Kama, Behsud and Koz Kunar districts  which are close to Jalalabad city and reach the market easily.

Farmers say the yield has increased, but due to lack of cold storages and foreign market, the harvests often do not meet their costs.

Jan Muhammad,  a farmer in Behsud district who grows vegetables on his land, told Pajhwok that when Pakistani tomatoes arrived, a kilo was sold for 100 afghanis, but now that Nangarhar's own tomatoes had reached their harvest, no one was buying even seven kilos for 100 afghanis.

He said cold storages should be built so that they could store their produce and presented it to the market when needed.

Vegetable sellers in Jalalabad city also say the prices of fresh vegetables are very low during the season and they even make no profit.

Nabiullah, who sells fresh vegetables at Talashi square in Jalalabad city, told Pajhwok people bought Pakistani vegetables regardless of their higher rates, but now the vegetables of their homeland had arrived in the market, the prices had decreased.

"We buy vegetables from farmers; often it happens that we don't make a profit. "

On the other hand, officials of the vegetable market in Jalalabad city say if farmers bring their produce to this market instead of common places, it will be more valuable and the produce will be sold at a higher price.

A contractor of this market, Khawaja Mohammad told Pajhwok that farmers and traders should bring vegetables to this market in order to sell them at a good price.

The production of fresh fruits and vegetables has increased recently in Nangarhar, which is an agricultural province.

ma