Farmers in Afghanistan's Maidan Wardak province are expressing concerns over the lack of adequate markets for their apple produce. This year, the province saw an apple harvest of 150,000 metric tonnes, with only 10% exported and 1% stored, while the remainder is either sold at low rates or spoils.
Local farmers and agricultural analysts are calling for the establishment of cold storage facilities and juice factories, alongside efforts to secure stable international markets. Mawlavi Niyaz Mohammad Abid, head of the Agriculture and Irrigation Department, noted a 25% increase in the apple yield from the previous year, attributing this to improved seed distribution, chemical fertilizers, and sufficient water supply.
Farmers like Purdal Khan Sahak and Sayed Abdullah Rufi report difficulties in selling their apples due to low market prices. Sahak mentioned selling apples at 70 afs for seven kilograms, which barely covers his expenses. He also highlighted the challenges of storing apples, which can lead to spoilage and waste.
Analyst Eng. Zabihullah Fazli emphasized the necessity of standard cold storage facilities and juice factories to mitigate such losses. He pointed out that the lack of proper storage leads to a decrease in fruit quality, affecting the competitiveness of Afghan apples in the global market.
Fazli urged the Islamic Emirate to focus on building these facilities and to promote proper packaging standards to enhance marketability both domestically and internationally. He suggested that adhering to international standards could stabilize apple prices and secure a market position for Afghan fruits.
Mawlavi Niyaz Mohammad Abid acknowledged the storage issues and mentioned that Maidan Wardak currently has two modern cold storage facilities with a combined capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes. He assured that efforts are underway to expand these facilities in the future.
Source: Pajhwok Afghan News