Low seasonal precipitation hits Jawzjan wheat, barley crops

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Farmers in northern Jawzjan province have complained that their rain fed wheat and barley crops were about to perish due to drought and asked government or the support.

Syed Mansour, 40, is associated with agriculture from the past 20 years. He said: “I get nothing from my land and the grassland from where livestock get their food is also about to dry. This made me worried that from where I should get support for my family and my livestock, how to deal with the drought.”

He said this year he suffered as the wheat crop had dried up in its initial stage. Whatever I had I spent it on wheat and now I am worried about the future that from where I shall provide food for my children and livestock.

Ahmad Shah, another farmer in the province, also complained against the drought and said his wheat crop was about to perish.

He is the only bread winner for his eight-member family and said agriculture was his only source of income which hit by drought.

“The Agriculture Department should support farmers with refined wheat seed and create the irrigation facilities for their lands.”

Agriculture Director Qari Ebadullah Ansari confirmed to Pajhwok the drought impact on standing wheat crop in the province and said wheat crop suffered as a result of the lack of seasonal rainfall.

He said 186 hectares land in the province was capable of irrigation, adding that currently wheat and corn barely was cultivated on 77,000 hectares land in the province.

He said: “A total 139,000 rain fed land existed in Jawzjan in which 28,000 hectare had been cultivated. Total on 105,000 hectares land wheat and barley had been cultivated.”

According to Ansari the problems faced by farmers had been shared with the Agriculture ministry and demanded support for the farmers.

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