Orchards set up on 750 acres of land in Samangan

AIBAK (Pajhwok): Grape, apple, almond, apricot, cherry, peach, plum and pear have been planted on 750 acres of land in northern Samangan province, an official said on Tuesday.

Eng. Abdul Hameed, in charge of the National Horticulture and Livestock Programme (NHLP), said the fruit tree plantation drive was a part of National Solidarity Programme (NSP).

The spring plantation campaign was being funded by the World Bank (WB), he said, adding the cost of one orchard was 6,000 afghanis — with 50 percent paid by owners.

Mohammad Rafi, one of the orchard farmers, said he had planted 330 almond trees with the help of professional people under the NSP project.

Agriculture was an agrarian country and its economy reliant on agriculture and livestock.

Since 2009, pistachio, almond, cherry and other orchards had been cultivated on 3,000 acres of land in Samangan with financial support from WB, the director concluded.

nh/mud

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