Watermelon yield in Nangarhar to surpass 83,000MT

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The Agriculture Department of eastern Nangarhar expects this year’s watermelon harvest in the province to surpass 83,000 metric tons from more than 2,000 hectares of land.

Farmers, who have cultivated watermelon, are also happy with the yield, but they say the government should control prices and increase duty on imported watermelons from neighboring countries.

AILD spokesman Ajmal Subhani told Pajhwok Afghan News watermelon crop was cultivated in Kama, Ghoshta, Bati Kot and Lalpur districts on 2,240 hectares of land.

He estimated this year’s watermelon harvest in the province at 83,800 metric tons, linking the bumper yield to recent heavy rains, which also caused heavy financial losses to farmers.

Subhani said the watermelon season created jobs directly and indirectly for thousands of residents.

He said last year watermelon was sown in Sherzad, Kama, Goshta, Lalpura, Batikot and Koz Kunar districts on 1,965 hectares of land that produced 73,487 metric tonnes.

On the other hand, the Canal Department says about 2,800 acres of land has been sown with watermelon and it will yield nearly 10,000 metrics tonnes.

Nearly 2,800 acres of land belongs to the Canal Department, which has been given to the private sector on lease, the department’s spokesman Hamayoon Gharibmal said.

Recent flash floods damaged all crops, but  their yield increased compared to past years.

Sayed Kamal, a farmer in Goshta district, said recent heavy rains damaged his crops but their yield was high.

“When fruits and vegetables are ready to be harvested, their prices fall because the same fruits and vegetables are imported from neighboring countries and we cannot compete with them in the market, so we ask the government to raise taxes on watermelon being imported from Pakistan”.

Sudais, another farmer in Batikot district, said the watermelon yield surged due to hybrid seeds and hoped farmers would benefit a lot if the market remained good.

“Currently the market is good, but watermelon prices are falling and we can't meet our needs”

According to officials, customs duty on imported fruits is increased in every fruit season in order to improve the market.

hz/ma