Local officials in southern Helmand province have reported a 16.8 percent increase in onion harvest in the province.
Zalmay Alko, Agriculture Director of the province, said the onion harvest has increased by 16.8 percent as compared to last year.
The Provincial Agriculture Directorate data shows that the farmers have cultivated around 1,260 hectares of land with various types of onions.
In the meantime, Mr. Alko said that the onion harvest per hectare of land reaches to almost 40 tons which shows an increase of almost 17 percent as compared to last year.
Mr. Alko further added that the farmers are exporting around 35 tons of onions to other provinces every week.
The Helmand Agriculture Directorate has stepped up efforts to support the local farmers in a bid to promote the cultivation of vegetables and other legal agricultural crops.
