Grape yield up but low prices prompt complaints

SAR-I-PUL CITY (Pajhwok): Orchard owners in northern Sar-i-Pul province say the grape yield has surged but there is no proper market for the fruit.

Abdul, one of the gardeners of Surkhak village, said: “Our grape production has increased this year, but we cannot sell our product at a reasonable rate due to lack of market.”

He called upon the government to launched programmes in support of gardeners to keep them from suffering losses.

Faiz Mohammad, one of gardeners from Behsud village, said: “The grape production has increased, but the price remains low. We don’t have cold storage to keep facilities for our produce.”

He urged the government to do something so that gardeners could get more profit. He demanded their access to market should be facilitated.

Qari Abdul Qadir Wahdat, director of agriculture, told Pajhwok: “The grape yield was 100,555 metric tonnes last year. This year, the production level reached 100,760 metric tonnes.”

He added Sar-i-Pul’s grapes were sold in the neighboring provinces, but not exported abroad or sent to distant provinces.

sa/mud

Views: 48