Wardak apple yield estimated to reach 140,000 tons this year

MAIDAN SHAHR(Pajhwok): This year’s apple harvest in central Maidan Wardak province is estimated to reach 140,000 tons compared to last year ‘s 92,000 tons, an official said on Monday.

Ihsanullah Bombiwal, agricultural affairs head at the Agriculture and Livestock department, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the apple yield in Maidan Wardak was around 92,000 tons last year, but the production was estimated to hit 140,000 tons this year.

He said hailstorms and rains did not damage apple buds and blossoms last spring and it was the reason the yield would be high this year.

He also said that the government was trying to find a suitable market for fruits of the country at home and abroad.

“As the bulk of apples are presented to the market at the same time in the country, that is why the domestic market is not able to consume all the produce.”

Farmers also complained that they struggled to find a suitable market for their crops and urged the government to solve this problem.

Azizullah, a resident of Jalrez district, said: “We will not be able even to meet our expenses if we sell the produce at the present price, the government should create a market for locally produced fruits.”

The apple harvest was not good last year due to natural disasters, said Rahimullah, a resident of Charki area. However, the apple yield would increase this year despite drought, he added.

He also complained about lack of suitable market for apples at the province level and said they were left with no option but to sell their produce to traders.

He asked the government to build enough cold storages to preserve their harvests for a period of time. “There are no cold storages and every year our crops are destroyed due to blocking of roads by the neighboring countries.”

Maidan Wardak has many apple orchards and apples produced here are exported to many provinces of the country, especially Kabul, Ghazni, Khost and Kandahar provinces.

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