JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Canal Project related orange orchards in eastern Nangarhar province are expected to produce over 3,000 tonnes of the fruit this year, officials said on Thursday.
Canal Project orange orchards have been leased to 12 companies that have employed hundreds of workers
Officials of the companies are satisfied with the price of oranges in the market, but consumers consider the prices high.
Canal Project spokesman Sayed Humayoun Gharibmal told Pajhwok Afghan News on Thursday officials and farmers expected chunkier harvest this season compared to previous year from orange orchards of the second and third farms of Batikot district.
“We expect over 3,000 tonnes of oranges from these orchards which show 1,000 tonnes hike compared to last year’s yield”, he said.
He hoped a higher yield of oranges would prevent imports of the fruit from other countries.
These orchards have been leased to 12 companies, which take care of the orchards and collect the harvests.
A contractor of an orange orchard, Shah Mahmood, asked the government to help them in area of irrigation water for the orchards. He described the market good for their oranges.
More irrigation water would increase the harvest which will then pave the ground for more employment opportunities, he added.
An orange collector Safiullah expressed satisfaction with his job and said he supported his family with his income
Other residents urged the government to control the prices of oranges in the markets.
Wahidullah, a resident, said oranges of Afghanistan were better in quality and taste, but their prices were higher than oranges of Pakistan and poor people could not afford to buy their own country’s oranges.
Officials say they intend to increase care of the orange orchards and plant more orange saplings to boost the fruit’s production and bring down its prices.
aw/ma
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