Wheat under the snow; farmers in Badakhshan’s Shiwa plain struggle with poor harvests
A number of farmers in Shiwa Plain, located in Arghanj Khwah district of Badakhshan province, say that early cold weather, irregular rainfall, and the short growing season have reduced their wheat harvests to an average of only about 75 kilograms per jerib, while agricultural experts say that wheat yields in Faizabad, Argo district, and some other areas of Badakhshan range from 350 to 500 kilograms per jerib. According to the experts, this significant difference has not only reduced household incomes but has also forced many farmers to rely on labor migration to cover their living expenses.
