Agriculture

Agriculture officials in central Logar province say this year’s grape harvest has improved, showing a 10 percent increase compared to last year.

Thirty-nine check dams have been constructed in southern Ghazni province over the past two years, helping to boost agriculture and mitigate the impacts of drought, according to farmers who report higher yields and rising groundwater levels.

A number of farmers in northern Samangan province say they incurred financial losses this year due to a sharp decline in the price of asafoetida (locally known as hing) and the lack of a proper market for the medicinal plant.

A number of landowners and farmers in western Herat province say the drip irrigation system not only drastically reduces water consumption, but also enables the cultivation of more land and leads to higher crop yields.

About 500 greenhouses have been equipped with the drip irrigation systems in northern Jawzjan province so far this year, with farmers saying their yields have increased manifold.

Experts and experienced farmers say the drip irrigation system should be promoted to irrigate large areas with minimal water, and they urge the government and aid agencies to raise public awareness in this regard and provide farmers with the necessary support.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will construct 120 zero-energy cold storage units for onions in six provinces of Afghanistan with financial support from the World Band (WB).

Some residents and farmers in Jaghatu district of central Maidan Wardak province say severe drought has destroyed their crops and left them struggling for water. They are urging the government to build dams to address the crisis.

Apple yield in central Logar province are expected to reach 19,000 metric tons this year — a nearly five percent increase compared to last year’s harvest.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock says $192 million was invested in the agricultural sector by national and international institutions, and 235 investors were provided with investment opportunities worth over 1.4 billion afghanis last year.

The Agriculture Department in southern Kandahar province says the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is constructing 15 cold storage facilities in two districts of the province at a cost of $200,000.

Acute drought in parts of Afghanistan has psychologically impacted farmers who face serious economic hardships; with some even forced to leave their areas. They are urging the government and the international community for help.