KABUL: The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, in a statement announced on Saturday that a total of 4.56 million metric tons of wheat have been harvested across the country this year.
According to the statement, 4.13 million metric tons of wheat were harvested from irrigated lands, while 404,000 metric tons came from rain-fed areas.
However, drought, plant pests, and a lack of seasonal rainfall have negatively impacted wheat farmers.
The report states that this year, 1.89 million hectares were planted with wheat nationwide, of which about 1.33 million hectares were irrigated and 562,000 hectares were rain-fed.
Compared to last year, the area planted with irrigated wheat decreased by 4% and rain-fed wheat by 24%.
Provinces such as Baghlan, Samangan, Paktika, and Maidan Wardak have seen a slight increase in wheat cultivation this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock has added that the country’s annual wheat requirement is estimated at 6.87 million metric tons, of which 4.54 million tons are produced domestically, and 2.33 million tons are imported.
Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Farah, Takhar, and Kunduz are provinces that have produced surplus wheat, which the ministry has purchased and stored.
To increase wheat production next year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock has emphasized that it has plans to enhance the distribution of seeds, fertilizers, agricultural tools, and technical consultations.
This comes as officials from the ministry previously stated that they aim to make the country self-sufficient in wheat production within the next five years.
Due to drought, pests, and lack of rain, 4.56 million metric tons of wheat harvested this year
