Farmers in Helmand are expected to produce 90,000 tons of grapes this year as the harvest season begins in the southern province.

Last year, the farmers produced almost 81,000 tons of grapes, the provincial head of Agriculture Directorate, Zalmay Aloko said.  

He said the grapes are sent to Kabul and a number of neighboring countries.

“We have vineyards in Lashkargah, Kariz, Nah-e-Siraj, Washir, Garemsir, and Nad Ali district. The grapes have a good market in the country and abroad,” Aloko said.

But the farmers said they are faced with lack of market and lack of cold storage facilities in Helmand.

“This year, our harvest is very good. Now, the problem is that we have less access to a good market,” said Sardar Mohammad said, a farmer from Helmand.

He said that the price of one kilogram of grape is less than Afs10 during the harvest season.

Vineyards have covered 6,410 acres of land in Helmand which produces 21 types of grapes.

Afghanistan produced almost 1.1 million tons of grapes last year, according to figures by the National Statistics and Information Authority.

Afghanistan’s grapes are mostly sent to India and Pakistan.