LASHKARGAH (SW) – A number of farmers in Helmand while complaining about the lack of cold stores, said that they have to sell fruits and vegetables at low prices or they perish before they can be sold.
The farmer told Salam Watandar that he is suffering due to the dull market of agricultural products and the lack of timely delivery of fruits and other agricultural products to other provinces of the country. Said Ali, a farmer in Marja district of Helmand, said that if he had been provided with the opportunity to preserve the products, he would have kept the products for the next season, but according to him, now his products are deteriorating due to the lack of cold storage. He said: “Now, it is cheaper for citizens to buy a bag of tomatoes. It takes three to four days. The bag has dropped to just 10 afghanis, which does not benefit us.”
At the same time, Abdul Jabbar, a resident of Nad Ali district of the province, said he is facing the same problem and added that he is facing loss due to non-sale and preservation of his agricultural products. He said: “I planted okra, tomatoes and cucumbers, but the warehouse was expensive, otherwise the vegetables we got do not go anywhere else. Here, when we bring them to the market, they are not sold and we take them back home.”
The shopkeeper of fresh vegetables and fruits in Lashkargah city, the center of Helmand, also said that in the seasons when there are no fresh fruits and vegetables in Afghanistan, the price of imported fruits and fresh vegetables is high because there is no scope for domestic production.
Ahmedullah, the shopkeeper, said: “Our vegetables are very priceless for now, two bags of bananas are only 30 and 20 afghanis, but if our products have not arrived, Pakistani bananas will cost 50 to 60 afghanis. When we get them from the shopkeepers, we sell them at 60 or 70 afghanis, but only a quarter of them reach up to 180 afghanis, but we sell them at 60 afghanis for two bags.”
On the other hand, regarding the existing problems of Helmandi farmers and shopkeepers, the local officials of this province say that they have started efforts to prevent problems in the agricultural sector.
Mohammad Qasim Riaz, deputy director of the department of information and culture, said: “Helmand provincial administration has already realized this problem of Helmandi farmers. Different government agencies of Helmand have repeatedly discussed the understanding with the private sector, there is hope that marketing and sales for farmers’ products will be resolved.”
ENDS
