The Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock of Sar-e-Pul reported a major increase in grape production in the province.

Officials from this directorate said that last year, 70,000 tons of grapes were harvested from the vineyards in this province; however, this year, more than 120,000 tons of grapes will be harvested.

Sharifullah Mosadiq, head of agricultural affairs at the Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock of Sar-e-Pul, said: “Last year, 70,000 metric tons of grapes were produced in Sar-e-Pul. In the current year, 1403, we are expecting 123,018 metric tons, which shows a 56% increase in grape yield compared to last year.”

However, orchard owners expressed concerns about natural pests, lack of markets for selling grapes, and the absence of standard cold storage facilities. They urged authorities to address these challenges.

Mohammad Haleem, a farmer from Sar-e-Pul, said: “There are five or six types; this year’s yield is a blessing, but they have also been affected by some disease. In the end, we have no other work; I am working on one or one and a half jeribs (land units), and we make our living from it.”

Another farmer, Ali Khan, said: “We have almost twelve jeribs of grape orchards with various types of grapes: Taifi, Kishmish, Red, and Winter grapes. We face problems, and the government should build us cold storage facilities so we can store our grapes and offer them to the market again.”

Farmers said that currently, 7 kg of grapes is sold in the markets of this province for 160 to 200 Afghani due to the lack of a proper market and standard cold storage, causing them significant losses.