Wardak orchards, farmlands ruined by past conflict

MAIDAN SHAR (Pajhwok): Most farmers in central Maidan Wardak province complain their agricultural lands and orchards have been hit by decades of conflict.

Mohammad Nazir, a grower from the Folad Khana area of Maidan Shahr, said most of the orchards had been parched and farmlands damaged by war.

“Conflict spread from district centre to villages, we migrated, orchards dried up because there was no one to irrigate them.”

Azizullah, another resident of Folad Khana locality, confirmed orchards had been used as trenches in the past. People were unable to cultivate their lands and nurture their orchards, he recalled.

“Over 200 apple trees were lost to conflict and now we are trying to use them as firewood,” he explained.

Rahimullah, 32, from the Bazikhel locality of Nirkh district, grumbled that most farmers had been unable to irrigate their lands due to war.

“The economic position of people is not good. Every year, they count days to yield and sell it in the market,” he said.

According to Rahimullah, due to hostilities, their lands and orchards had been damaged. Time and resources were needed to rehabilitate them, he argued.

Agriculture Director Abdul Jabbar Khalid acknowledged the farmers’ problems and difficulties.

He revealed a survey of war-affected orchards had been initiated and their owners would be provided support.

“Recently, we distributed 260 fruit saplings to some farmers in the nine administrative units of each district. The support was offered by an NGO called Star,” he said.

Farmers affected by the previous conflict had been picked for assistance, he said, promising the Agriculture Department would grow fruit saplings and distribute them to growers.

nh/mud