Nangarhar’s date orchard to yield 23 tonnes this year

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The Canal Department of eastern Nangarhar province says its date orchard is expected to yield up to 23 tonnes of dates this year, marking a significant increase in production.

Last year, approximately 21 tonnes of the orchard’s yield was destroyed due to heavy hailstorms and rainfall.

Syed Hamayon Gharibmal, spokesperson for the Canal Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News that date orchards located in the second block of the Hada Farm cover 32.5 acres of land. Of this, 20 acres have been producing dates for the past few years.

He added that 2,700 date palm trees have been planted in the 20-acre orchard, with around 20 workers engaged in its maintenance.

According to Gharibmal, an estimated 22 tonnes of dates were expected to be harvested last year, but severe weather conditions resulted in the loss of nearly 21 tonnes.

This year, the expected yield is around 23 tonnes, he stated.

Gharibmal also noted that the increasing production has encouraged more local farmers and investors in Nangarhar to establish date orchards on their lands.

Besides this date orchard, the Nangarhar Canal Company also manages extensive citrus and olive groves, which produce thousands of tonnes of fruit annually.

kk/ma