AIBAK (PAN): Officials and residents said 85% economy of Samangan people mainly depends on agriculture and livestock--- vital sectors they demanded to be developed further.
Multiple small nature projects have been implemented during the past decade in an apparent attempt to resolve their problems but still challenges are haunting the locals at various fronts.
Farmers and land owners said government and international community jointly worked to address their problems but the main issue of vital importance regarding shortage of irrigation water could not be tackled.
Agriculture:   
Noor Mohammad, head of agriculture department operation section said some achievement had been made to build canals and prevent animals’ diseases.
Shortage of irrigation water prompted farmers to promote their orchards instead of cultivation, they said. “Wheat is the bumper crop of the province while almonds, pistachios and grapes were being produced abundantly,” Noor Mohammad added.
Going into greater details, he said there was 23,000 hectares irrigation land including 8,000 hectares orchards and 41,000 hectares is rain-fed lands. The province has 43,000 hectares of natural pistachio forests.
The residents of Hazrat Sultan, Khuram, Sarbagh and Roy Doaab districts are associated with the profession of livestock while people of Aybak, Feroz Nakhchir, Khuram, Sarbagh and Hazrat Sultan districts work to promote livestock with the orchards the area saw greater attention, he added.
Noor Mohammad said recently apple orchards in Dara-i-Suf Bala and Dara-i-Suf Payeen districts had been developed to great extent.
“Aybak has a total of 5,000 hectares almond orchards, 900 hectares grapes orchards in Hazrat Sultan and Feroz Nakhchir districts and 43,000 hectares of natural pistachio orchards in Aybak, Dara-i-Suf Bala and Dara-i-Suf Payeen, Khura, Sarbagh and Feroz Nakhchir districts. In addition, the districts have 15,000 hectares of natural oaks forest, he added.
During the past few years, as many as 15 irrigation canals had been constructed elsewhere in the province and another ten water reservoir dug wells were provided to the people of the far-flung areas. He said agriculture related technical equipments were provided to the farmers, adding that time consuming activities had now been replaced by modern technologies disbursed among farmers.
 
He said old irrigation system and lack of access to markets were badly affecting the economy of farmers.
“We have achieved big targets by facilitating the farmers’ community by providing them with advanced training, establishing cooperation centers, refined seeds, establishing of clinics for animals, distribution of medicines and construction of canals,” he added.
Farmers and livestock owners:
Lauding government move to facilitate the farmers’ community, Samangan residents said the government had helped them in promoting their orchards, adding that the long-standing water scarcity problem could not be resolved so far.
Mir Mohammad, a resident of Hazrat Sultan districts while appreciating the extended support of the government during the past five years said, the government support helped him to grow grapes on his 10 acres of land.
Haji Agha, a resident of Aybak said they would have had most products in north if they had enough irrigation water. He said most of the farmers grow orchards and cultivate wheat because the crops needed less water comparatively. He demanded the government to address their legitimate problem of shortage of irrigation water.
“Prolonged spell of draught, grabbing of public land by warlords and influential left far-reaching negative impact on the economy of the farmers’ community,” he lamented.
Traders:   
Besides other small businesses, dry fruit is the biggest part of trade in Samangan. Ahmad Farid Khudajo, head of economy department in Samangan said trade in Samangan was very rare, which was limited only to the provincial capital. “There are only two small factories producing kitchen utensils and agriculture tools which help offer job opportunities to the people of the area,” he added.
Kuhajo went on to say traders used to buy almonds and grapes from the farmers and then sold in Mazar-i-Sharif with high prices. Shafi Muradi, another trader said he was doing his business for the last five years only between Mazar and Samangan.   
Handicrafts:
Handicraft of Samangan is largely viewed weaving carpets, clothes embroidery and cosmetics.  Farid Ahmad, member of the association of carpet weavers and women traders that the business was thriving in the province.
“Based on the efforts of the associations, the production of carpets is very good in the province and the handicrafts are also improved by the large contribution of women,” he added.
Gulsum, a member of the Women Trader Association said handicrafts production was an ancient tradition in Samangan which was affected by war to great extent.
She said women were currently weaving carpets, embroidery and making cloths and were being sold then in Mazar-e-Sharif.