FARAH CITY (PAN): Majority of Farah residents depend on agriculture and livestock to feed their families but most of the farmers complain of facing problems such as lack of irrigation water, cold storages facilities and appropriate market for their products.  
Agriculture:
Engineer Abdur Rahman Matin, acting director of Agriculture and Livestock Department of Farah Province told Pajhwok Afghan News more than 80% people of the province had depended on agriculture and cultivation.
If attention is paid to develop the sector and addressed the demands of farmers and growers then there will be a revolutionary change in the economic situation province’s people and at the same time it will leave positive impact on the country’s economy as well, he added.
 He said Farah had approximately 4.8 million hectares, including 560,000 hectares irrigated while rest 120 hectares was rain-fed land.
He said the province produced first grade pomegranate and the jujube was also used in medicine.
 
“Wheat, barley, watermelon, onions, cucumber, grapes, apples, eggplant, potato and okra are among the most important crops being produced in the province with hundreds of thousands of tons are exported to Iran and Pakistan,” he informed.
 
At the same time, landowners and farmers complained due to inadequate irrigation water and lack of appropriate market and cold storage facilities for preserving their products. Their products got damaged every year and the government could not take steps to resolve their genuine demands.
 
Mehr Dil 40, a resident of Khak Safid District said Farah Rud River had water for three of four months and the farmers were forced to irrigate their fields with the help of water pumps from ten feet below ground surface.
 
“If the government constructs Bakhsh Abad Village Dam then the irrigation problem of the province will be resolved to great extent, he said.  
 
He said the contract of designing the Bakhsh Abad Dam, over Farah Rud in Bala Bluk District was signed with Nespak, a Pakistani Construction Company about three months ago.
 
Rahim Jan, a resident of Masaw Village of Posht Rud District said three pomegranate orchards and tens of agricultural lands, hundreds tons of products of watermelon, onion and vegetables were yielded good crop but the products’ were sold on throw away prices or damaged due to lack of market and cold storage facilities.
 
He said Agriculture Department did not extend any cooperation to farmers’ community for the prevention of agricultural pests, provision of chemical fertilizer and improved seeds.
Haji Nasrullah, a tribal leader from Qala-e-Kah district who has his pomegranate orchard complained either the government or the NGO did not bother to help the growers of the province in an attempt to improve their crops.
He said much of the land in Qala-e-Kah District was being irrigated through water pumps, which reduced underground water and farmers’ community was much worried about the water issue.
Mohammad Jumah Riffat, member of Farah provincial council said the government did not take tangible measures to resolve problems of the growers’ community.
Insecurity was a constant source of trouble, which negatively impact the agriculture sector and move left thousands of people jobless, he added.
Livestock:
Farid Ahmad Haibat, a social activist and head of Afghanistan Youth National Organization said livestock played a highly significant role in the economy of Farah residents. He said if the sector was properly managed then the economy of people would improve considerably.
“One of the major problems in agriculture and livestock sectors is the lack of managing activities by the government. Few years back, some people have established chicken farms, and the move prompted others to establish chicken farms. The business was then resulted in excessive product in the market, which was ultimately failed. All the 600 established chicken farms have now been closed,” he added.
Haibat said finding a market was the top priority and the government should help explore market facilities for the farmers. During past two years, most vegetable and fruit products were spoiled due to lack of market or were exported to Pakistan with cheaper prices.
Mohammad Akbar, a resident of provincial capital said, most people in Farah had livestock, which recently were badly affected by some type of disease.
“I lost my three cows but did not know about the disease. The government should help and arrange special awareness programs for the farmers’ community to prevent such lose in future,” he added.
Trade and investment:
Nangialai Muhammadi, a civil society activist said Farah had a number of investors but lawlessne and absence of needed facilities were hampering investment in the province.
The instability, deteriorated law and order and multiple hurdles forced investors of the province to invest in other provinces or abroad in Gulf Counties or Iran. He demanded the government should adopt measures to provide level playing field for investors in the province.
A resident of Farah who had his big investment in Dubai while complaining about the insecurity at his home province said he was set to establish a pomegranate juice factory in Farah but at that time a number of investors were kidnapped and he preferred to leave the country.
Insecurity had hampered and affected the entire development activities in the province but Farach security officials said law and order had been improved as compared to the past and investors had good opportunities to invest.
Dil Jan Khakrez, head of security department in police headquarters said security had comparatively improved and Taliban militants could not afford to face his forces in confrontation. He said investors and common people were extended with the needed facilities.
Haji Halim, head of Khalid Halim Plastic Factory he had established the ever first plastic factory in Farah last year by investing 13 million Afs.  He said that absence of electricity and raw materials dealt a blow to his business and left hundreds of employees jobless.
As compared to import plastic from Iran, he said his factory was offering good stuff with low price being produced in Farah.  He said his factor had 40 permanent and 200 temporary employees but closure of his factory left all his employees jobless.
He offered if government had provided him with the needed facilities then he could restart his closed factory.
Abdul Hamid Hamid, assistant of provincial council said trade and investment sectors of the province were experiencing multiple problems, demanding the government should extend every possible support to reinvigorate the trade and investment activities in the province.
Importing of chickens from Iran and Pakistan was the main factor behind the closure of local chicken farms.
Handicrafts:
Known as an ancient tradition in Farah, Handicrafts are until years, was a source of revenue generation for most of the people but now the business had been on the downward trend.
Carpet weaving, embroidery, making hats and other ornaments were among important handicrafts mostly produced by women.
Earlier, carpets produced in Farah were exported to Europe but due to absence of a market, the business had been reduced to great extent. Residents weaving carpets previously said, the import of Iranian carpets to the country forced them to leave the profession.
“I have been weaving carpets for the last 14 years but now I stopped doing the profession anymore because it is no more a profit oriented business,” Shah Gul, a resident of second municipality district said. He went on to say he bought some land and built a house with the income from the business. Currently, handicrafts stuff and carpets did not have good market, there for she stopped the business.
Abdul Rahman, a carpet trader from the province said, carpets produced in the province had been smuggled to Pakistan and were being exported under the Pakistan trade mark.
He added the business was very good until two decades back with its export to European countries with special reference to Germany where the products had good demand.