Herat Gardeners Face Crop Decline Due to Water Shortage and Rising Fertilizer Costs

Several gardeners in Guzara district of Herat province report that declining water resources and seasonal winds have destroyed a significant portion of this year’s crops, severely reducing their income compared to previous years.

According to these gardeners, alongside the damage to their yields, production costs have also increased, making it difficult for many to continue gardening activities. They add that the price of a bag of chemical fertilizer has risen from around 2,500 Afghanis to 5,500 Afghanis over the past five years, and some gardeners can no longer afford the fertilizer needed for their orchards.

The gardeners emphasize that reduced yields, increased costs, and the lack of suitable markets to sell their products have placed heavy economic pressure on families dependent on this sector. They call on responsible authorities and agricultural organizations to support gardeners by providing affordable chemical fertilizers, expanding irrigation systems, and creating better marketplaces.

Herat is considered one of the country’s main grape-producing provinces, with thousands of families earning a living through gardening. However, in recent years, drought, reduced water resources, and rising production costs, including fertilizer prices, have posed serious challenges to this sector.