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In the Afghan province of Samangan wheat production drops by 28%

The production of wheat in northern Samangan province has declined by 28 percent despite the fact that the crop was grown on a larger area this season, an official said. Najibullah Joya, acting agriculture director, told Pajhwok Afghan News a drought and lack of rain were the main reasons behind the fall in the wheat yield this year. He said the staple crop on thousands of acres of rain-fed land in Quflani, Kokah Blaq, Alsha, Dara Kalan, Kojar, Hazrat Sultan districts and other areas had gone dry due to drought. Last year 95,000 tons of wheat was collected from 115,000 hectares of rain-fed and irrigated lands. But this year, 68,000 tons have been yielded by 125,000 hectares of land. Figures show a nine percent increase in the area under cultivation and a 28 percent decline in the yield. Officials say 80,000 tons of wheat is required annually to meet the need of Samangan residents. The harvest process that started in Samangan in June is still underway in some areas. Mohammad Amin, a resident of Shurab village, recalled last year he had reaped 1.7 tons of wheat from 2.5 acres of land. But this year he collected half a tone due to drought and inadequate rains. Earlier, the Commerce Ministry had claimed Afghanistan was close to achieving self-reliance in wheat production, a claim which seems to take more time to become a reality.