MAIDAN SHAR, Afghanistan, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Collecting apples from trees in his orchard outside Wardak's provincial capital Maidan Shar city, 35 km west of Kabul, Akmal Khan is hopeful. This year, he believes he will make a good profit from selling his apples.
"I have packed 2,000 bags so far this morning, with each bag weighing one Sir (7 kg) for sale," Khan told Xinhua reporters who paid a visit to his orchard recently.
Busy with collecting apples and packing the fruit into shopping bags with family members and a handful of daily wagers, the 35-year-old farmer said with confidence that fruit farming could largely contribute to strengthening the local economy, particularly in the war-torn Central Asian country.
"I am hopeful of harvesting 560 to 840 kg of apples this year," Khan said, adding that his annual income ranges from 50,000 to 200,000 afghani (some 750 to 3,000 U.S. dollars), depending on the weather conditions.
"If the weather is favorable, we can have a bumper crop."
About 80 percent of Afghanistan's population reportedly rely on agriculture, fruit farming, and animal husbandry. Meanwhile, many farmers still use traditional methods and techniques, such as ox-drawn plows, which have put a limit on efficiency and productivity.
Similar to wheat, rice, and other crops, Afghan farmers have expanded their businesses to orchards and vineyards, seeking to diversify their income.
Wardak province is popular for growing a variety of apples and the fruit's good quality in Afghanistan, Khan said, adding much of Wardak's apple harvests are exported.
The picturesque apple orchards and lush green landscapes not only attract apple traders but also draw tourists to visit the central province.
"Apples from here are exported because of their excellent quality," Khan emphasized while expressing the belief that the development of agriculture including fruit farming will significantly benefit Afghanistan, especially the rural communities.
Khan employs a small team of daily laborers, paying 350 afghani (5.3 U.S. dollars) per day to help collect apples. Like many Afghan farmers, he is optimistic about expanding fresh fruit exports as a solution to solve their economic problems.
He also reflected on the difficult years of war. The two-decade U.S.-led military presence, which ended in August 2021, led to insecurity and devastation to the region, damaging apple orchards and livelihoods.
"During wartime, working here was difficult, but now without war, we can work in a peaceful environment," another farmer, Merajuddin, 45, told Xinhua inside his orchard.
"Every morning, I come to my orchard, collect apples, and sell them to earn livelihood to support my family. There is no war currently and the results of my work are satisfactory," the bread-earner of a nine-member family said happily.
According to Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for Afghanistan's Ministry of Industry and Commerce, fresh and dried fruits remain key export commodities for the country. In the past six months, the fresh fruit exports totaled 31 million U.S. dollars. ■