According to the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers in Afghanistan harvested around 1.32 million tons of watermelon across 78,808 hectares during the current solar year, 1404. The highest yields were recorded in the provinces of Farah, Balkh, Herat, and Badghis.
Watermelon ranks second only to grapes in the country's fruit production. The ministry attributed this year's higher output to improved cultivation techniques, distribution of modified seeds, and access to farming equipment that enhanced both yield and fruit quality.
Despite the larger harvest, farmers in multiple provinces have reported challenges in marketing and post-harvest handling. They cite low farmgate prices, limited cold storage capacity, and competition from imported fruit as key constraints. Many growers are urging authorities to implement higher import tariffs on fruits, particularly watermelons from neighboring countries, and to invest in export infrastructure.
"We need access to cold storage and better transport routes to export our fruit," one farmer said. "Otherwise, much of the harvest goes to waste."
The ministry did not provide comparative data from the previous year's harvest. However, farmers producing other crops have also raised similar concerns in recent months, noting insufficient government support, limited access to modern storage facilities, and weak export coordination as ongoing barriers to agricultural development.
Agriculture continues to play a central role in Afghanistan's economy, employing a majority of the rural population and providing an essential source of income for farming communities.
Source: AMU
