Pistachio cultivated on 11,000 acres of land in Samangan

AIBAK (Pajhwok): Improved pistachio seeds have been cultivated on 11,500 acres of land at a cost of $460,000 in northern Samangan province, an official said on Monday.

Agriculture official Eng. Khair Khwa told Pajhwok Afghan News the seeds had been planted in Dara-i-Sauf, Ferozan Achir, Khuram and Sarbagh, Hazrat Sultan and Aibak to boost farmers’ economy.

Cultivation on each acre cost $400, with 25 percent of the amount paid by growers and the remaining by the agriculture department, he added, hoping the initiative would help revive pistachio forests in the province.

Farmers, meanwhile, welcome the move as an encouraging step. One gardener Mullah Khairuddin said he had planted pistachio on 20 acre of land with government’s cooperation.

At the same time, Agriculture Director Rafiullah Roshanzada said his department had grown pistachios on 2,840 acres of lands. More than 177,000 saplings also exist in Samangan greenhouses.

hs/mud  

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