KHOST - Provincial authorities have reported a decrease in wheat production in Khost province during the current year.

A Manager of the provincial agriculture department, Noor Shahbaz, said that the yield fell due to heavy rainfall that caused the rust disease to the crops while the imported seeds did not suit local climatic conditions. In addition, hailstorms also negatively impinged on this year’s wheat yield, added Mr. Shahbaz.

“If proper seed varieties compatible with Nangarhar’s climate and soil are not introduced, the production for next year will decline by five percent,” he warned.

Rust is a fungal disease that affects wheat plant stems, leaves and grains, causing a weak spike, black grain and bitter taste, said an agriculturist, Engineer Mir Nawaz Ilham.

A resident of the area, Mahmud Shah, said his farms used to produce 8,400 kilograms of wheat in the past years but in 2013 the yield slumped to 2,800 kilograms.

Mr. Shah said that he approached the Department of Agriculture in a bid to get any assistance to control the disease but it went in vain.

In the past 20 years, it was the first of time wheat crop was hit by the disease, said a farmer from Sabari district, Zahir Khan. He asked officials and donors to help farmers of the province.

Source: Awoshtoon Radio (Paktya)