Nangarhar produces 1,850 metric tons of peach this season

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Peach farms on around 500 acres of land in eastern Nangarhar province produced 1,850 metric tons of the fruit this year, an official said on Saturday.

According to the Agriculture Department, farmers earned 150,000 afghanis from per half an acre yield this season. The newly cultivated peach farms in Nangarhar are also seen as a good alternative to Pakistani peach.

Rafiullah Rahimzai, the agriculture director, an exclusive interview told Pajhwok Afghan News that a large number of peach farms had been established in four Nangahar districts under the National Horticulture Livestock Project (NHLP).

He said these orchards had been cultivated on personal lands of farmers, measuring around 500 acres.

Every half an acre of orchard produced nearly 350 kilograms of peach, with each farmer earning 20,000 to 150,000 afghanis.

New types of peach had been discovered at the fruits research centre in Nangarhar. The local peach quickly ripens compared to the one from foreign countries.

Rahimzai added flawwhite and wiowhite are two different peaches and their samples were brought from Italy for cultivation and promotion here.

He said these orchards had been established in Surkhrud, Behsud, Khewa and Kama districts and being expanded to other areas.

Qaseemullah, who in the past grew a pomegranate orchard, changed his mind two years back and set up a peach orchard.

He said peach saplings provided by the agriculture department to him earned him 30,000 afghanis profit, although the trees were yet to reach fruit producing level.

Another farmer from Kama district Malak Zarab said he was pleased with growing peach farm on his land. His orchard is three years old and produced quality fruit this season.

nh/ma