Several farmers in Kunduz say that natural pests and climate change have harmed cotton production in the province.

According to them, this year's cotton yield has decreased compared to previous years, and natural pests have also caused damage.

Hasti Khan, a farmer from Chahar Dara district who has been growing cotton for years, said his crops have significantly decreased this year due to natural pests.

Hasti Khan told TOLOnews: "There was no yield at all. This year, the crops were completely struck by disease and turned black, leaving only the stems."

Other farmers are calling on officials in the caretaker government and aid organizations to assist them in this matter.

Farmer Ehsanullah said: "This year, cotton yields have significantly decreased compared to last year, because the cotton was hit by disease due to the heat. We ask the Islamic Emirate to help the farmers of Chahar Dara district in Kunduz."

Farmer Khan Jan said: "Neither cotton nor mung beans yielded any harvest. We ask the Islamic Emirate to help us and provide us with fertilizers."

Officials at the Kunduz Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock say they plan to distribute chemical fertilizers and improved seed varieties to help meet the needs of farmers in the province.

Salahuddin Wahidi, Director of Agricultural Affairs at the Kunduz Department of Agriculture, said: "We have conveyed the farmers' problems to the Ministry of Agriculture and shared this issue with collaborating organizations. God willing, just as we distributed seeds to most farmers, helping them is also part of our plan for next year."

According to statistics from the Kunduz Department of Agriculture, last year cotton was planted on 4,095 hectares of land in the province, producing 10,033 tons of cotton. However, this year, production has decreased by 30%.