MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock department of northern Balkh province says cotton crop was cultivated on 25,000 hectares of land in the province this year — 10 percent up over last year’s cultivation.
Maulvi Roknuddin Mutasim, acting director of agriculture, told Pajhwok Afghan News that this year the cotton had a good market and farmers could earn appropriate income.
He said: “The cotton was cultivated on 25,000 hectares of land which is 10 percent higher compared to last year.”
Mutasim added the price of cotton had doubled compared to last year’s rate. Last year 224 kilograms of cotton accounted for 10,000 afghanis but this year the same quantity was sold for 20,000 afghanis.
Zia Khan, a farmer, happy with the high price of cotton, said he harvested 224 kilograms of cotton from each acre this year.
Rustam, another farmer, told Pajhwok that lack of irrigation water and fertilizers’ high prices created problems for growers.
Cotton is one of the main products of Balkh province, which is exported to foreign countries, especially Iran and Pakistan, along with other provinces.
sa/ma
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