Ghor Orchards Burgeon With Free Saplings

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): With the advent of spring, nurseries in Ferozkoh, the capital of western Ghor province, have brought thousands of ornamental, fruit-bearing and other saplings for sale.

The Agriculture Department has announced its support for fruit growers to help orchards in the area thrive. To this end, thousands of saplings have been provided to growers free of cost.

In a busy corner of the Ferozkoh market, the nursery business remains vibrant. People are purchasing saplings in groups and fruit growers, hopeful of a greener future, carry plants that will one day provide shade and fruit.

Inayatullah, a nursery owner, his hands covered in soil but a broad grin playing across his visage, speaks as he pulls saplings one by one from large bags.

Having come from Maidan Wardak province with over 2,500 fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing saplings to sell, he says:“It's a blessing!”

He adds:“This year, our sales have been very good. People are showing a greater interest in buying saplings. I sell up to 200 saplings a day, with prices ranging from 100 to 350 afghanis each.”

Abdul Saboor, another seller negotiating the price of an ornamental sapling, is also pleased with the market situation.

“The market is better this year,” he says.“People are buying more saplings and prices are more reasonable. Previously, we sold a sapling for 150 afghanis, but now prices have dropped and customers are happy.”

Orchards growing again

Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, a grower from Ghor, purchased 300 saplings, carefully placing them in his vehicle. His gaze is fixed on the future - on reviving the orchard devastated by last year's floods.

Pointing to the saplings, he says,“It was a tough year when floods wreaked havoc on our orchards. But this year, good saplings have come to Ghor and the prices are rational. I need to rebuild my orchard.”

Supporting growers

The Agriculture Department is taking steps to assist fruit growers. Qari Abdul Naseer Munib, an official from the department, said they were trying to ensure the revival of orchards and the growth of the agricultural sector.

He said more than 25,000 fruit-bearing and non-fruit saplings had been distributed free of charge to growers so far.

Over the past three years, he added, hundreds of farmers in the province had received technical training in orchard management and had been provided with standard orchards. This initiative will continue to support the future growth of the sector.

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