The Ministry of Agriculture says 500 tonnes of pomegranates are ready to be exported to India and the Central Asian countries after being processed

Officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock said the price of each kg of pomegranate is less than 1 US dollar in Afghanistan's markets, but the Ministry will help Afghan farmers export their pomegranates at fair prices.

"This is the season to pick pomegranates in Kholm district of Balkh province. The marketing officials for the orchard keeping and livestock projects have provided opportunities to make deals with the merchants," Ahmad Fahim Jabbari, head of the information and communication project of Horticulture and Livestock Project in northern Afghanistan said.

Pomegranate production in Kholm district has increased by 40% this year, a pomegranate exporter told TOLOnews reporter.

Farmers in Kholm district believe that pomegranate production will increase significantly if the government supports them, especially in building proper irrigation systems and providing pesticides for them.

"The government should help the orchard owners in different fields. Using imported sub-standard pesticides and lack of water supplies are among our main problems," one of the farmers told TOLOnews.

Presently, pomegranate orchards in Kholm district of the northern Balkh province cover more than 20,000 acres of land.