Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_Monitoring, Herat’s department of agriculture and livestock said this year grapes and figs harvested were 40% and 80% less respectively due to the severe winter and the ongoing drought.
Farmers said that they hope to increase export opportunities but need cold storage facilities. They say currently they sell only to the domestic market, at very low prices.
This was the 7th annual grape, honey and fig festival in the province. The produce was displayed at 40 stalls.
Grape farmers said they expect to collectively harvest about 100,000 tons this year, despite the volume being substantially less than in the past.