SHEBERGHAN (SW) – A number of farmers in Jawzjan say that they have suffered heavily due to consecutive droughts and lack of rain.
They added that the lack of monsoon rains and lack of water, as well as plant pests, have destroyed irrigated and non-irrigated wheat fields in this province.
Farmers in Jawzjan told Salam Watandar that they have not received any help from the government and aid institutions in the field of agriculture.
45-year-old Fakhruddin, a farmer in Jawzjan, said that he has planted wheat in his 50 acres of non-irrigated land, and this year, he spent about 400,000 afghanis to prepare his land and buy wheat seeds. But even half of this cost has not been recovered.
He, who is the sole breadwinner of his nine-person family, added: “I ask the Islamic Emirate to help. It is a drought and I have nothing left. I bought wheat from the market and I owe 100,000 afghanis. There are eight or nine of us who eat bread and I am alone to earn.”
On the other hand, a number of livestock farmers in Jawzjan say that due to consecutive droughts, the price of livestock feed has also increased and they cannot afford it and are forced to sell their livestock at a low price.
According to the livestock farmers, before this, each sheep was sold for 10,000 to 12,000 afghanis and each head of cattle was sold for 75,000 to 80,000 afghanis. But now their prices have decreased.
Shukrullah, who has been raising cattle for 14 years, says that the value of his cattle, which was one million afghanis, has now decreased to 500,000 afghanis.
He added: “We brought the animals to the market for sale. It is a drought and no one takes it. 5-6 thousand afghanis goods are sold for two or three thousand afghanis only.”
Farmers and livestock owners in Jawzjan still claim that the aid institutions act in a wrong manner and the aid does not reach the deserving people.
A number of agricultural and animal husbandry experts say that there should be support programs for farmers in Jawzjan from the government and aid institutions.
Abdul Rashid, an expert in agriculture and animal husbandry, said: “Both the livestock sector and the farmers have been affected. As expected, the situation will not improve. But we still hope.”
However, the officials of the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Jawzjan, confirming this issue, say that they have plans in hand to support farmers and livestock owners in this province and will implement them soon.
Ebadullah Ansar, head of agriculture, irrigation and livestock of Jawzjan, said: “The people of Jawzjan have suffered a lot, and almost 1,100 livestock are under threat in this province. It’s been three years since the drought, farmers and ranchers are in trouble and they don’t have water for agriculture.”
ENDS
