The ministry of agriculture, irrigation and livestock (MAIL) said on Thursday that produce grown in greenhouses has increased by 20 percent in Farah province in the past year, which in turn will increase the revenue generated in the sector by local farmers to an expected $30 million USD for this year.
 
Currently about 65 small and medium-sized greenhouses operate across Farah, said the ministry.
 
The expansion of greenhouse activities in Farah has created an estimated 11,000 jobs for people in the province.
 
Meanwhile, MAIL spokesman Lotfullah Rashid said 90 percent of greenhouse produce is being exported to neighboring provinces and onward to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
 
“With the rise in produce in greenhouses, 110,000 tons of vegetables will be harvested this year,” said Rashid.
 
Khan Mohammad is an Afghan farmer from Kabul who has invested more than two million AFs in a greenhouse project.
 
He called on government to help farmers expand their crops which directly contributes to the economic development of the country.
 
“The government has not done anything so far, we are not having sufficient fertilizer,” said Khan Mohammad.
 
Agricultural experts have said that there is a need for more greenhouses to be established in the country where farmers can grow different types of vegetables to boost crops and support the national economy.
 
“All types of vegetables must be grown in the greenhouses in order to harvest good crops,” said agriculture expert Yasin Farahmand.
 
According to MAIL, last year around 800 greenhouses were built across the country. A total of 1,000 greenhouses will eventually be established in different areas of the country.