MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock Department of northern Balkh province has estimated this year’s melon harvests at 154,000metric tones — five percent down from last year’s yield.
On the other hand, Balkh farmers say not only melon harvest has decreased, but its prices have also gone down.
They asked the government to find suitable market for their melon harvest so they could avoid financial losses.
Akhtar Mohammad, a farmer in Balkh district, told Pajhwok Afghan News the melon yield had decreased in the province this year as well as its prices.
He urged the Department of Agriculture to cooperate with farmers in selling their harvest and provide them with chemical fertilizers.
Meanwhile, Elham, another farmer, said compared to past year, the prices of melon had decreased significantly.
He added if the government did not find a suitable market for melons, they would face losses.
A number of other farmers made similar statements and asked the government for cooperation in solving their problems.
Meanwhile, Sher Ahmad, a trader of melons, told Pajhwok the melon prices significantly decreased this year.
He said: “Last year 100 melons were sold for 10,000 afghanis, but this year the same sold for 5,000 afghanis.”
He added last year they had been able to sell all melons in the market until 9:00am, but this year they were unable to sell the fruit until noon.
Mohammad Hussain Azimi, Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock department head, said this year melons were cultivated on 11,000 hectares land in the province and the yield was estimated at 154,000metric tons.
He said this year farmers did not cultivate rain-fed land with melons due to drought so the yield decreased by five percent.
According to him, last year’s harvest of melons was 162,000metric tons in the province.
He assured farmers of support and said they were trying to resolve all their problems.
Melons are considered among important agricultural products in the north, especially in Balkh. The fruit is exported to foreign countries as well as some other provinces.
kk/ma
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