Drought destroys 60 percent of crops in Faryab this year

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Farmers and livestock owners in northern Faryab province fear they will face many problems if not assisted by the government after drought severally damaged their crops.

Provincial Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock department officials confirm drought destroyed 60 percent of crops in the province this year and farmers and ranchers need help.

Haji Asmatullah, a farmer in Maimana city, said the economic situation of farmers and ranchers was not satisfactory this year as their crops parched due to severe drought.

The elder said he was wondering to find food for his family or animals.

He said if the government and donors did not extended helping hand to farmers and ranchers, their animals would die and many people would abandon agriculture.

Abdul Rasool, a farmer in Almar district, said the life of farmers and livestock owners, especially rural people, was heavily depended on agriculture and livestock, but drought spanning three years badly affected them economically.

He added farmers were somehow able last year to meet the input cost and provide grass to their animals, but this year wheat did not grow and farmers were unable to even feed their animals.

He said many farmers unhappy with their work had sold their agricultural tools and went to the city to start a new life and some went to Iran and Turkey.

Amanullah, a farmer from Khawaja Sabzposh district, said continuous droughts took away everything from his and forced him to shift to Maimana city to start another job.

He said this year he sowed wheat on several hectares of land, but due to lack of rains, the crop did not grow and he sold it to a shepherd against 3000 afghanis.

He claimed 80 percent of his village residents migrated to the city and other places due to drought, lack of water and work.

Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock director Haji Izzatullah Noorani said drought caused irreparable damage to crops and fruit orchards and now farmers faced many problems.

Noorani said most farmers in Faryab depended on rains and snow and this year there was no rain or snow and as a result 60 percent of crops were destroyed.

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