The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) says the pistachio harvest has increased by 100 tons in northeastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan.
According to a statement released by MAIL, the pistachio harvest in Badakhshan has increased by 100 tons as compared to last year.
The statement further added that the pistachio harvest in this province reached 300 tons last year while the amount has increased to 400 tons this year.
The Directorate of the Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock of Badakhshan said the majority of pistachio trees and transplants are located in Shahr-e- Bozorg, Tashkan, Yaftal Payan, Drayam, Darwazha, Ragh, Yawan, and Kohistan districts of the province.
According to the officials, the level of income from pistachio harvest is satisfactory in Badakhshan provinces which reaches to almost 285.7 million Afghanis annually and are mainly sold in Takhar, Kunduz, Kabul, and Balkh markets.
Pistachio gardens have been planted in 250 acres of land through National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP) while natural pistachio trees exist in 14 thousand hectares of land in the jungles and mountains of Badakhshan.
According to MAIL, the pistachio gardens established by the ministry covers 1 to 5 hectares of land which contribute to almost 30 percent of the income of the farmers while the residents of the districts benefit up to 70 per cent from the income generated from pistachio harvest.
