SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): About 500 greenhouses have been equipped with the drip irrigation systems in northern Jawzjan province so far this year, with farmers saying their yields have increased manifold.

The climate is changing rapidly; global warming is causing droughts in some areas and storms, heavy rainfall, and floods in others.

What is drip irrigation system?

Agricultural experts explain in this system, water is delivered directly to the roots of plants and trees through pipes and drippers, and with a small amount of water, large areas of land can be irrigated and better yields can be obtained.

Jawzjan farmers say yields boost, water saved

Amanullah, a 37-year-old farmer from Baba Ali village of Shiberghan city, claimed with a smile:“Our land used to remain thirsty due to lack of irrigation water, and yields were low, but since we activated the drip system, this year's yields have almost doubled”.

Amanullah, who has been active in agriculture for more than 28 years, equipped 20 acres of his land with a drip irrigation system this year and is very pleased with the results.

“The drip system has made it very easy for us. We were able to irrigate our lands and make them greener by using less water. Earlier, we faced severe water shortages, and crops would dry up or destroyed. This year, we cultivated wheat, sesame, watermelon and cantaloupe on these lands, we even sold some of the products in Shiberghan market, which brought us good profits”.

He advised other farmers to use modern irrigation systems to prevent water waste, and asked the government and aid agencies to provide farmers with advanced agricultural equipment and machinery to pave the way for a multiple increase in yields.

Abdul Ghaffar, another farmer from Ate Khawaja village, has a similar experience. He said:“At first, we thought this system was expensive and complicated, but now we see that water consumption has decreased and our work has become easier. We are hopeful for the future.”

He has equipped his ten acres of land with a drip irrigation system and cultivated wheat, watermelon, cantaloupe, eggplant, and okra, he added.

He expressed satisfaction with the increase of yields and increased sales of his products in the market, and urged the government to provide farmers with improved seeds and chemical fertilizers in a timely manner so that they could witness greater progress and quality in agriculture in the coming years.

“I am very satisfied with this year's harvest. This system has not only saved water consumption, but the quality of the products has also improved”: Shah Murad, another farmer who irrigates his 15 acres of land through a drip system, said.

Like other farmers, he is demanding that the government and relevant institutions provide them with modern agricultural equipment and machinery so that they can produce more and better quality products in less time.

“If modern facilities and equipment are made available to us, agriculture in the country will flourish and people's lives would improve”.

Expert: Modern irrigation boosts yields, cuts water use

Mohammad Rasool Sardash, an agricultural expert, explained that implementing drip irrigation and modern agricultural methods is an effective way to increase yields and reduce water consumption.

“If farmers use these systems, they could produce more and better quality crops with less water consumption”: he added.

According to him, these methods also provide the basis for the production of fresh and diverse products, even in conditions of drought and water shortage, and bring the country closer to self-sufficiency in the agricultural sector.

He suggested that Agriculture and Livestock Department should expand its programs in coordination with donor institutions in the field of promoting this system and educating farmers.

500 greenhouses equipped with drip irrigation in Jawzjan: Official

Rustam Karimi, head of agricultural Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News that due to the continuous droughts and the reduction of water resources in the province, farmers in the province have suffered the most in recent years.

In coordination with partner institutions, they began implementing and promoting the drip irrigation system at the village, district and provincial levels, he added.

Karimi claimed this year, 500 greenhouses were equipped with drip irrigation systems. This measure reduced water consumption, prevented waste, and at the same time increased the production and quality of agricultural products.

He noted he had undertaken extensive programs to raise awareness and educate farmers so they could become more familiar with addressing water scarcity problems and managing water resources.

This is despite the fact that in Afghanistan most agricultural land is still irrigated using traditional methods, and only a small number of people use drip irrigation systems.

hz/ma

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