Agricultural officials in western Afghanistan’s Herat province say that 1,310 hectares of farmland have been cultivated with potatoes this year, with an estimated harvest of around 18,000 metric tons expected in the coming months.
Nasir Ahmad Qazizada, an agriculture specialist at Herat’s Department of Agriculture, said the largest potato-growing areas are located in the districts of Obe, Pashtun Zarghun, Guzara, Farsi, and parts of Injil district.
Local farmers report favorable growing conditions and improved yields compared to last year. However, rising production costs continue to place pressure on growers.
Sayed Nasim, a farmer from Siavushan village in Guzara district, said he cultivated three and a half jeribs of land with potatoes this season. While yields have increased, he noted that higher prices for chemical fertilizers and certified seed potatoes have reduced profit margins.
Despite these challenges, farmers say market conditions have improved significantly this year due to a decline in potato imports from neighboring Pakistan. For years, Afghanistan served as a major market for Pakistani agricultural products, including potatoes. Reduced imports have created greater opportunities for domestic producers and helped sustain stronger prices for locally grown crops.
Agricultural experts, however, warn that inadequate cold-storage infrastructure remains a major obstacle for Afghanistan’s farming sector. They say the shortage of modern storage facilities often forces farmers to sell their produce immediately after harvest, when market supply is at its highest and prices are typically lower.
Herat is one of Afghanistan’s key agricultural provinces, producing a wide range of crops for both domestic consumption and regional markets.
