LASHKARGAH CITY (SW) – Officials at the Helmand Directorate of Agriculture, say that more farmers in the province are turning to fruit farming, leading the directorate to increase tree nursery production.
Zalmay Hamkar, head of the government-run nursery farm at the Helmand directorate of agriculture, says that 200,000 saplings have been grown this year, double the 100,000 saplings produced last year.
“A pistachio tree can produce 10 to 15 kilograms of pistachios, generating an income of 10,000 to 15,000 afghanis for a farmer. We have found that pistachio saplings yield good results in this region; we have been cultivating and selling pistachio saplings to people for two years now,” he added.
Some tree nursery sellers in Helmand also report an increase in demand for saplings, especially pistachios, jujube, oranges, and lemons.
Sayed Wali Saadat, a nursery seller in Helmand, said, “… many saplings are planted, and they yield good results. Now, most people are buying pistachio and jujube saplings, while demand for other saplings has decreased.”
Bakh Mohammad, a resident of the Sangin district in Helmand, who came to Lashkargah, the provincial capital, to buy saplings, said that he has dedicated much of his garden to pistachio saplings over the past two years. “Now, most farmers in our district plant orange, jujube, citrus, and pistachio trees, which yield good results. Since last year, myself and other farmers have increasingly focused on planting pistachio saplings.”
Mir Hamza, another resident of the area, also buys and plants dozens of saplings each year. “In the past, people bought saplings of old trees, but now they prefer pistachio, pomegranate, and jujube saplings because they yield better results.”
Drought and water scarcity are known challenges for agriculture and farming in Helmand, which could affect farmers’ income and interest in gardening.
However, Sadam Mirani, an agricultural expert in Helmand, noted that date palm, olive, and pistachio saplings are well-suited to the region’s climate and require less water. “Fruit trees such as pomegranates, apricots, apples, and grapes have high income potential. Although they require some initial investment, they provide a steady source of income for farmers in the long run. It is important to choose saplings that are compatible with Helmand’s climatic conditions,” he said.
Previously, some farmers in Helmand had complained that a lack of proper cold storage and markets led to significant spoilage of their orchard products.
