Ghor Farmer Women: From Flooding To Greenhouses Revival

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): Some women farmers in western Ghor province have begun effort to restore their flood- affected agricultural lands and gardens in spring.

Last year, hundreds of acres of agricultural land and flourishing gardens were destroyed by floods in the province.

The winter season has ended and spring has arrived and women farmers have risen from these challenges and are working to make their destroyed gardens green and lush once again.

Zainab, 36, a resident of Gul Dara village in Ferozkoh city, said her livelihood has been darkened by flood. Sshe had a greenhouse that earned her 35,000 to 40,000afs annually.

Zainab cultivated vegetables, eggplants, and cucumbers in her greenhouse. She said she would send these products to the market with her son to sell daily.

Daily, she worked for hours in her greenhouse, seeing her hard work pay off. In midst of happy days, floods came and destroyed everything. The greenhouse, once full of vegetables and herbs was buried under mud.

Zeinab explained with eyes full of longing and a hopeful heart:“I had built a very large greenhouse... and I was doing very well; but the floods destroyed my greenhouse”.

It is not only Zainab whose greenhouse was destroyed due to floods, there are other women who faced this problem.

Zobaida another female farmer has similar story. A few years ago, she built a greenhouse with the help of Agriculture Department, and its produce contributed significantly, to her family's expenses, but floods damaged her garden.

Zobaida talked about agriculture training and with concern said:“I was trained by Agriculture Department and I created greenhouse, I earned good income. Now I need chemical fertilizers and improved seeds again, so we could rebuild our lives”.

These women farmers are not just thinking about rebuilding greenhouses; they are seeking professional and vocational training in this field. They want to continue their work in a more specialized and effective manner by receiving government support and aid from various institutions.

They asked officials to organize specialized trainings for them besides providing them with seeds and chemical fertilizers, so they could learn modern agricultural methods.

Abdul Zahir Tawana, an agricultural expert, told Pajhwok Afghan News women farmers should be empowered and supported.

“The practical and theoretical training programs for women should be developed. The creation of demonstration plots, small greenhouses and sales markets could help women move up from traditional farming methods to modern production and sales. This could play significant role in economic growth of families,” Tawana added.

According to him, educated women in agricultural sector are more effective and useful for family economy and society.

Ziaul Haq Joya, press office head at the Agriculture Department, referring to educational programs explained:“We provide agriculture training in cooperation with various institutions to help create jobs, these programs are aimed at empowering women and improving the level of agricultural production”.

He considered the role of women in agricultural sector as effective and said women farmers not only help their families' economies, but also contribute to the country's economy.

hz/ma

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