Onion Harvest Increases in Kandahar Despite Agricultural Challenges

The Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock in Kandahar has announced that the region’s onion harvest has increased this year compared to the previous year.

Maulvi Shamsurrahman Mosa, the head of agricultural affairs at the department, told the media that approximately 1,950 hectares of land in Kandahar’s central district and surrounding areas were planted with onions this year, yielding more than 68,000 tonnes.

According to Mosa, although the total area under cultivation has slightly decreased compared to last year’s 2,050 hectares, overall yield has improved. Last year, 71,000 tonnes of onions were harvested from the larger area.

He attributed the increased yield to the effective application of pesticides against crop pests and improved irrigation management. Mosa also noted that, in addition to being sold in domestic markets, part of Kandahar’s onion crop is exported to neighboring countries such as India and Pakistan.

Despite this progress, major challenges remain that could negatively impact agricultural production in the future. These include a lack of consistent government support, neglect of export infrastructure, and insufficient access for farmers to essential services under the Taliban administration.