Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Kabul (BNA) The drought brought the products of wheat on arid lands to naught, which is not good news for economy of rural areas residents.
BNA economic affairs analyst commenting on the issue writes recently the authorities of ministry of agriculture and irrigation announced that the arid wheat crops in the country reached to naught and the general wheat crops reduced almost one million tons this year in comparison to previous year.
Wheat constitutes almost half of the agricultural products of the country and arid wheat cultivations are more than watered wheat cultivations. Coming to naught the products of this vital crop is not good news for the economy of the country, especially for economy of rural areas residents.
Regretfully, during the current year in addition of horrible terrorist incidents, insecure situation, worsening economic condition, Afghanistan also experienced bad weather and draught. Now the country is facing unprecedented draught. Although the consequences of draught are much more harmful than the activities of terrorists, but this problem has disappeared among political complexities and made little attention to it. Recently the ministry of agriculture and irrigation talking about coming to naught the products of arid wheat in the country expressed concern. The reduction of arid wheat crops will make Afghanistan to return to foreign markets and once again, we have to spend a huge amount of hard currency for purchasing wheat that will impact badly on already fragile economy of the country.
The problem of draught that suffocating our people is not emerged immediately, the signs of it appeared several months ago, but paid little attention. This made the situation worse.
The problem is this that for settling the problems such as draught not made any fundamental work. Just holding press conferences or expressing concern by relevant authorities is not enough; a precise action program is needed for the solution of this critical problem. The world situation suggest that not only Afghanistan but the entire world suffering from climate changes. Every country has sought a way of solution for the problem not mourned but we cried and worked less. Although the people talk about the reduction of the level of underground waters and draught is prevailed in our country we annually lose millions cubic meters of water in vain. This is due to the bad management. Therefore instead of expressing regret it would be better to improve the management of the waters flowing in the country and prevent wasting them in vain any more.
The ministry of agriculture and irrigation to campaign the problem expressed good words; we hope the words not remain on the paper but to put in practice.
Earlier the farmers of the country have used improve seeds by with low quality that gave no good result, in addition the improve seeds provided by the ministry of agriculture for the farmers was not enough. We hope the ministry with a precise and practical plan comes out to fight the problem successfully and find a proper solution for it.
Abdul Khalil Minawi
BNA Director General
