Nangarhar Sees 40% Rise in Olive Harvest Amid Agricultural Challenges

The Nangarhar Valley Agricultural Company has announced that olive production in the eastern Afghan province has reached over 1,600 tonnes this year—a 40% increase compared to the previous year.

According to Sayed Mohammad Naeem Mohammadi, the head of the company, technical estimates suggest that more than 190,000 liters of olive oil will be produced from this year’s harvest. Last year, 1,100 tonnes of olives were harvested, yielding 135,000 liters of oil.

Mohammadi added that 35 tonnes of pickled olives will also be produced from the current crop, up from 30 tonnes last year.

Despite agriculture being a primary source of livelihood in Nangarhar, the sector faces significant obstacles, including a lack of adequate support, weak marketing infrastructure, and challenges stemming from Taliban governance. The Taliban’s inefficient agricultural policies have created difficulties for farmers, potentially threatening the continued growth of local crops like olives.