Tomato yield increases in Baghlan this year

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Despite the ongoing drought and plant disease, tomato production increased in northern Baghlan province this year, an official said on Wednesday.

Wali Amarkhil, head of the information department at the provincial Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, told Pajhwok more than 22000 metric tons of tomatoes were harvested this year in the province despite the drought and plant diseases.

Last year, 8,898 hectares of land was sown with tomatoes, which produced 21,630 metric tons of tomato, but this year, 22,760 metric tons of tomatoes were collected from the same land.

Amarkhil said they could not provide farmers with medicines to prevent diseases this year, but advised them instead.

Due to lack of cold storages in Baghlan province, farmers have no option but to sell their produce at any price, he added.

Muhibullah, a farmer, told Pajhwok he sowed tomatoes on three acres of land and had so far he sold the produce worth 500,000 afghanis.

“There was drought and a kind of disease attacked the tomatoes. Medicine for the disease is not available here, and the Department of Agriculture did not help us with medicines. I had to order the medicine from Pakistan to protect tomatoes from the disease.”

If he had not taken timely action to prevent tomato disease, he would have incurred severe financial loss.

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