Grape harvest rises in Ghazni; growers call for markets — Pajhwok

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Grape production in southern Ghazni province has increased by around 10 percent compared with last year, but growers say they could suffer losses and fail to recover their costs if suitable markets are not found. Growers say rain, plant diseases and natural disasters damaged their harvests in previous years, but these problems were less severe this year due to favourable weather, resulting in a good grape harvest. Haji Enayat, a grower from Gilan district of the province, said he harvested around 10.5 tonnes of grapes from about 1,000 vines last year, but this year’s harvest had nearly tripled. “Last year, I harvested 10.5 tonnes of grapes from 1,000 vines, but this year the harvest has almost tripled and I may collect between 28 and 31.5 tonnes,” he told Pajhwok. Enayat said he had spent heavily on establishing and maintaining his vineyards but was concerned that weak market conditions would prevent him from recovering his costs. He said traders bought grapes for around 170 afghanis per seven kilograms last year, but this year even high-quality grapes were difficult to sell for 70 afghanis per seven kilograms. Another grower from the area, Mohammad Anwar, described this year’s grape harvest as “extraordinary” but said the lack of suitable markets had made him concerned. He said there were raisin houses in…