FIROZKOH (Pajhwok): Experts and orchard owners in western Badghis say that despite a significant decline in pistachio forests in recent years, their restoration and the establishment of standard orchards could benefit thousands of families. They add that investment in processing and access to domestic and international markets could also turn pistachios into an important export product for the country.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), pistachio forests in Badghis, which once covered more than 90,000 hectares, have now shrunk to less than 40,000 hectares.
However, in recent years, with support from the government and international organizations, tens of thousands of hectares have been restored and millions of saplings planted.
Focus on pistachio orchards could transform Badghis economy
Abdul Salam, an agricultural expert in Badghis, told Pajhwok that pistachios from the province are among the highest-quality natural products in the country and have strong potential to boost the local economy.
He said the lack of proper forest management, reliance on traditional harvesting methods, and insufficient investment were key challenges in the sector.
He added: “Although some efforts have been made to establish pistachio orchards and protect pistachio areas, there is still a need to strengthen forest protection and increase investment. More importantly, attention must be given to production and processing, and harmful traditional harvesting methods must be prevented.”
He also said that if concrete plans were implemented for forest restoration, orchard development, farmer training, and market access, pistachios could become a major source of income for local people and a key export product.
In his view, greater attention from the government and supporting institutions could play an important role in reducing poverty and creating job opportunities in Badghis.
Market access and processing key to growth
Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani Omari, an economic analyst in the province, said: “If structured domestic and international markets are created for Badghis pistachios and investment is made in packaging and processing, the value of this product will increase significantly, boosting farmers’ incomes.”
He noted that Badghis pistachios have high economic value due to their quality and taste and fetch good prices in markets.
He added that expanding pistachio forests and properly restoring and protecting degraded areas could significantly improve the province’s economic situation and reduce unemployment.
He said thousands of families across the province currently rely directly or indirectly on pistachio collection and sales for their livelihoods, but a lack of infrastructure, limited cold storage facilities, and marketing challenges hinder full utilization of this resource.
Farmers call for greater investment
Ramazan Suleimani, a local orchard owner, said Badghis has an ideal climate for pistachio cultivation and that greater investment is needed in the sector.
He added: “If the government and relevant institutions support us and provide pistachio saplings, our economic situation will improve significantly.”
Another farmer, Ghulam Haidar, said pistachio forests are a major source of income for local people and that their development would benefit both households and the national economy.
He also called on authorities to take serious measures to prevent the cutting of pistachio trees in the province.
Officials highlight ongoing efforts
Local officials say awareness campaigns and protective measures have been launched to prevent illegal cutting of pistachio trees and improve forest management, yielding positive results.
Rahimuddin Rahimi, spokesperson for the Badghis governor, said programs had been implemented to curb illegal logging, raise public awareness, and improve forest management, with notable progress achieved so far.
He added: “We are committed to protecting pistachio forests and, in cooperation with the public and the Green Security Unit, are working to prevent illegal cutting. Plans are also in place to improve markets and facilitate the processing and export of this product.”
According to FAO data published in 2019, the total area of pistachio and juniper forests in Badghis is about 157,052 hectares, around 90 percent of which consists of pistachio forests.
He said the province’s favorable climate and vast land provide strong potential for expanding pistachio orchards.
He added that over the past four years, about 3,500 hectares of pistachio forests had been restored through development projects and partner organizations, while local people had established around 4,000 hectares of pistachio orchards.
Overall, he said, about 25,000 hectares of land have been brought back under pistachio forest cover since 2019.
He also noted that poverty and a lack of fuel resources drive some residents to cut pistachio and juniper trees, but the Green Unit has arrested many offenders and efforts continue to better protect these forests.
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