MAIMANA (SW) – A number of gardeners in Faryab say that due to the severe cold and frost last winter, the yield of their gardens has decreased by 80% compared to last year and it has affected them badly.
Shah Mohammad, a gardener in Faryab, says: “Years ago it was very good and the fruit was free, but it got cold this year. The yields are very low and there are no sales, and the fruits are crushed due to the drought. This year, due to severe frost, the gardens have suffered a lot.”
Abdul Ahad, another gardener in Khajah-Sabzposh district, also expressed concern about the decrease in his harvest, saying: “Many of the gardens are weak compared to last year. Most of the crops of the gardens were destroyed by the winter freeze, and on the one hand, the drought has had negative effects. Approximately 60 percent of farmers have suffered this year.”
Abdul Sabour, a fruit seller in the city of Maimane, the center of Faryab, complains about the decrease in the yield of orchards in this province, saying that it has caused gardeners to face many problems. He added: “Because of this cold winter, the fruit yield has become very weak and all the fruits have cooled down. Fruit sales have also increased. Fruits are also expensive because of their sales.”
Ezzatullah Noorani, head of Faryab Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock department, confirming the decrease in garden yields and the suffering of gardeners in this province, told Salam Watandar that a large and standard cold storage facility, the foundation stone of which was laid in the previous government in Maimaneh city, and with political developments in the country, its work was stopped, they are trying to restart it and make it available to gardeners.
He added: “The extreme cold, which was below freezing degrees, has completely destroyed most of the crops in the gardens. In this case, we repeatedly suggested to the central authorities that the minister of agriculture promised that help would be provided to the farmers, gardeners and even the owners who suffered this year.”
The lack of standard cold storage facilities for fruit storage and the market access for selling products is said to be one of the major problems of gardeners in this province.
ENDS
