SAR-I-PUL (Pajhwok): The Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Department of northern Sar-i-Pul province has estimated this year’s grape harvest at 120 metric tonnes in the province, showing nearly a two-fold increase.
However, gardeners say the government should facilitate them to export their produce to foreign countries.
Sharifullah Musadiq, an official of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News 70 tonnes of grape were produced from gardens of the province last year, but this year’s yield will reach 120 metric tonnes.
The spike in the fruit harvest has also badly affected its price as one kilogram of grape is sold for 20 to 30 afghanis compared to 60 afghanis last year, he grumbled.
He added grape orchards currently existed on 7.735 hectares of land in the province.
On the other hand, gardeners were happy with the potential surge in grape yield, but urge dthe caretaker government to facilitate the export of their products to foreign countries.
Abdul, one of the gardeners in the province, says: "This year, the grape harvest has increased compared to last year, and we are satisfied with it."
He said if exports of grape increased gardeners could earn a good income.
Qahar, another gardener in Sancharak district, linked the spike in grape yield with favorable weather and rains.
He also asked the interim government to find a good market for their harvest abroad.
The agriculture department assured they were striving to find a good market for grapes in the country and abroad and the grapes exporting process is ongoing to some countries.
kk/ma
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