Logar grape yield increases 10pc this year

Pul-i-Alam (Pajhwok): Agriculture officials in central Logar province say this year’s grape harvest has improved, showing a 10 percent increase compared to last year.

Mohammad Rafi Ibrahimi, head of agricultural affairs at the provincial Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Logar has a total of 1,968 hectares of grape gardens, producing more than 36,700 tonnes of grapes this year — about 10 percent higher than last year’s output.

He attributed the rise in production to favorable climatic conditions, improved security, public awareness programs for farmers and the establishment of new orchards.

Last year, grapes from Logar produced 32,000 metric tonnes from 1,967 hectares of gardens, but this year, new orchards were also established through departmental efforts.

Meanwhile, Akram Khan, a farmer from the Padkhwab area of Pul-i-Alam, confirmed, “Indeed, grape production has increased compared to last year, but this year’s market prices are significantly lower.”

He urged the government to find suitable domestic and foreign markets for grapes and other agricultural produce from Logar.

Logar, an agricultural province located near Kabul, relies heavily on farming, horticulture, and livestock as the primary sources of livelihood for most of its residents.

hz/sa