NELLI - Agriculture products have been declined by 50 percent this year due to an early coldness of weather and continued drought in the province, an official said on Saturday.
Agriculture Department Director Syed Abdul Wahid Ferozi all agriculture yields including vegetables, pulses and fruits had been declined this year by 50 percent due to the drought and early cold.
He said almond is one of the agriculture products which is the economic sources of many Afghans and they wait for its ripening all the year, but this year the production of almond came down to 13,000 tonnes compared to 25,000 tonnes last year.
He added the price of almond had been declined this year with seven kilograms of almond accounted for 500 Afghanis compared to its last year price of 800 afghanis.
According to Ferozi, the non-availability of processing factories, dilapidated roads and highways, the lack of market and attention from the government to problems of farmer were some of the reasons being faced by the farmers in Daikundi.
On the other hand, farmers and sellers of almond in Nelli and other parts of the province complained against the lower price of the fruit and added the price of almond had declined by 300 Afghanis this year compared to the price last years.
Rahmatullah, one of Daikundi farmers, said: “Every year we collected up to nine tonnes of almond and earned up to $600 net income from the almond yield, but this year the production of almond and its price declined.” (Pajhwok)