Natural disasters hit Farah melon yield

FARAH CIY (Pajhwok): Heavy snowfall and rains, often accompanied by windstorms, affected the melon crop in western Farah province this year, an official said on Monday.

Agriculture and Livestock Director Eng. Mohammad Jafar Kazimi told Pajhwok Afghan News more area had been brought under melon cultivation this year.

However, nonexistence of a suitable markets and natural disasters had badly affected melon yield, he said. Up to 310 tonnes of melons are produced annually in Farah, where the level stood at 294 tonnes this year.

Agriculture experts say the lack of market and natural disasters could be blamed for the decline. Amarullah, a resident of Raj village, said: “I cultivated the melon crop on four acres of land but a large part of the crop was destroyed by torrential rains”.

Despite being hit by natural disasters, he daily collected four to five tonnes of melon from his garden.

nh/ma

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