BADGHIS - Pistachio yield in Badghis, Afghanistan’s leading province for pistachio cultivation, has declined by 50 per cent, officials have reported.

Covering about 30,000 hectares of land, pistachio forests in the province are faced with various threats that have adversely affected their cultivation.

In addition to natural disasters such as floods, insecurity has been another factor that has led to the drop in pistachio yield in the province.

The Head of the Badghis Agriculture and Livestock Department, Hafizullah Binish, said insurgents hide out in the pistachio forests and cause damage to the crops. Furthermore, illegal armed groups prevent access for many farmers and are reportedly said to pick pistachios off of private properties and sell them illegally.

In Baghlan province, agriculture officials said 38,000 hectares of woodlands including 20,000 hectares of pistachio woodlands were present in the province three decades ago; however, only 7,000 hectares of pistachio forests have remained today. The majority of the forests were lost to the decades of war and usurpers.

Pistachio woodlands are currently situated in central Baghlan and some other districts including Dahnai Ghori, Doshi and Nahrin.

Pistachio woodlands are also available in Samangan and Kunduz provinces of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is in the centre of origin for pistacia vera, a species of pistachio. Pistacia vera holds valuable genes for cold hardiness and drought tolerance. Afghan pistachios are recognized for color and intense flavour.

Source: Afghan Business News Portal