A number of farmers in the Shulgara district of Balkh say their crops suffer from pests and diseases every year and they asked the Islamic Emirate to eliminate the problem.

They say that every year their wheat crop suffer from fungus, which reduces wheat yield.

Farmers emphasize that they harvest up to more than half a ton of wheat from each acre of land, but this figure has been reduced by forty percent due to plant pests.

“Unfortunately, in recent years when the diseases and pest problems have grown, our yields have dropped dramatically by 245 Kg to 280 Kg,” said Mohammad Amin, a farmer.

“The people of Shulgar district mostly cultivate wheat, soybean, cotton and corn,” said Assad, another farmer.

There are more than 40,000 acres of irrigated agricultural land in Shulgara district of Balkh, but the lack of water and the lack of standard roads for the transfer of agricultural products are the main challenges for the farmers of this district.

“Chemical fertilizers have become more expensive and the yields have decreased,” said Mawlawi Farooq, governor of Shulgara district.

Meanwhile, a conference was held to mark Farmer’s Day and to distribute improved soybean seeds to farmers.

“People face a lack of water and chemical fertilizers, but in the city there is a lot of water,” said Asghar Hussein, the organizer of the conference.