In Afghanistan's Ghazni Province, economic strain is evident among greenhouse operators and young entrepreneurs. The business environment is challenging due to weakened demand and limited institutional backing, impacting one of Afghanistan's prolific agricultural areas.
Madad Ali Mohammadi, a grocery shop owner, reported: "People just don't have money." With five children to support, Mohammadi details, "We're just getting by, barely finding dry bread. There's no work, no movement. Everything has slowed down."
The decline in daily sales signifies broader concerns. With scant economic avenues, youth increasingly pursue fruit farming, especially apple cultivation, seeking income stability. Yet, challenges persist.
Yasin Mokhtarzada, an orchard proprietor, made substantial investments anticipating gains from Ghazni's conducive apple-growing conditions. Nonetheless, he remarked, "But we are drowning in debt. No matter how hard we try, nothing seems to change."
Ghulam Hussain Jafari, another orchard grower, criticized inadequate market regulations and governmental oversight, which he believes hurt local produce. "When our apples come to market, Iranian imports flood the shelves. Prices drop and we lose everything," he stated.
Local inputs to amu.tv highlight Ghazni's climate as favorable for horticulture, including fruits and vegetable greenhouses. Yet, insufficient market access and investment risk affect growers' viability.
An agricultural official noted, "There is potential here," albeit under conditions of anonymity. "But without support, farmers won't keep going. And if agriculture falters, so does the entire rural economy."
Farmers suggest that targeted interventions like affordable fertilizers, efficient transport, and import regulation might rejuvenate the sector, offering essential employment in an economy with limited job prospects.
Source: AMU
