Badghis pistachio harvest to double this year

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) on Sunday said pistachio harvest in western Badghis province would reach 34,000 tons -- double compared to last year’s.

A statement from MAIL quoting Badghis agriculture director, Abdul Tawab Tayeb, as saying, “The amount of pistachio harvests would reach 34,000 tons this year in Badghis based on collected figures and assessments.”

“Pistachio trees had low production last year due to drought but more rainfall and snowfall last winter contributed to high production of the fruit this year,” the source added.

Last year, Badghis produced 15,000 tons of pistachio. According to MAIL, pistachio trees make around 30,000 hectares of forests in the province and more gardens of the fruit have been created with the efforts of MAIL and relevant organizations in the recent years.

Badghis agriculture department says around 4,000 pistachio gardens have been established in the province and they would produce the fruit in coming years.

The statement added that 120 hectares of pistachio jungle would be rehabilitated this year as 160 hectares was rehabilitated last year.

Badghis agriculture department has grown around 70,000 pistachio plants in the spring of ongoing 1399 solar year and distributed them to gardeners on a fair price, the source said.

MAIL said that pistachio was a major income source for Badghis farmers.

mds