As farmers across Afghanistan prepare to harvest their apple crops, the country’s Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock states that a contract for the purchase of apple for the army and the police was signed between by the ministries of Defense and Interior Affairs with the Afghan Union of Apple Producers. 

In the terms of the contract, the Afghan Union of Apple Producers will provide 15,000 tons of the fruit to the two ministries. 

Afghanistan is expected to harvest 250,000 tons of apples this year, according to agriculture officials, the fruit has increased by 10%.  

Officials of the Afghan Union of Apple Producers said the challenges farmers face today have undermined and affected their international exports as well as their prices.  

According to this year’s statistics, 140,000 tons of apples were harvested only in Maidan Wardak province in central Afghanistan. 

“We only sell 15,000 tons of apples to the national police and national army while we harvest 140,000 tons of apples only in Maidan Wardak. We request for more contracts and buyers,” stated Mirwais Hajizada, the head of Afghanistan Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock.  

“Through the implementation of more agricultural projects, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock will create 71 stocks for Maidan Wardak’s apples. These will be operational in the next few days,” said Akbar Rustami, a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. 

The Afghanistan Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock stated that besides contracts for apples and rice, all other contracts have been given to businessmen who import the goods from abroad.