7000 farmers in Zabul being distributed wheat seed, fertilizer

QALAT (Pajhwok): Thousands of farmers are being distributed improved wheat seed and chemical fertilizer in southern Zabul province.

Provided by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the assistance is being distributed to 7000 farmers by the Afghan Development Association (ADA).

Zabul agriculture director Maulvi Ataullah Rashid told Pajhwok Afghan News each farmer was being given 50 kilograms of improved wheat seed, 50 kilograms of white and 50 kilograms of black urea worth 17000 afghanis.

The assistance is being distributed among 2000 farmers each in Qalat, the provincial capital, and Shinkai district and 1000 farmers each in Shahri Safa and Arghandab districts.

Ataullah said it was wheat planting season in Zabul and farmers would have satisfactory yield by sowing the improved quality seed.

Farmers said they were glad for being provided with improved wheat seeds and chemical fertilizers because they could not afford to buy the agriculture input due to their weak economic situation.

Wali Dad, a farmer from Khawaz village of Qalat, told Pajhwok drought and untimely rains inflicted heavy losses on farmers who they were unable to buy improved wheat seeds.

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