This document provides an overview of fruit culture in Afghanistan. It discusses the country's climate and environment, the importance of horticulture to its economy, and production of various fruits. Afghanistan has a generally dry climate with cold winters and hot summers suitable for growing fruits like grapes, almonds, pistachios, and citrus. Horticulture provides food security, income, and an alternative to poppy production. The document outlines efforts to improve fruit cultivation through better varieties, irrigation, soil management, and support for farmers.

1. A VIEW OF FRUIT
CULTURE IN AFGHANISTAN
Noorani Gul Nabi khan Research Student of UOM 1

2. Contents of the Presentation
Consists of three parts:
A. General Information about
Afghanistan.
B. Value of Horticulture to Afghanistan’s
Economics.
C. A view of fruit culture or Pomology.
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3. Part A: Afghanistan in Asia
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4. Continuous …
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Location of Afghanistan

5. Continuous …
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6. Population:
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7. Food security and population:
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8. Climate:
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 It is located in dry part of the world.
 Cold and snowy winter.
 Hot and dry summers.
 Wet season runs form winter to early spring.
 In summer, Indian monsoon.
 There is variation in temperature.
 HT (49 C), LT (-16 to -10)

9. Temperature variability:
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10. Precipitation:
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11. 11

12. 12

13. Climate
changes:
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14. 14

15. Usage of water:
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•We use About 30% of the
country’s available water.
• loss of water within the
system
•Poor distribution of water
over the growing season.
• poor management of
available water.
•Traditional irrigation
system
•Weak Gov

16. Part B: Value of Horticulture to Afghanistan’s
Economics
Major roles of agriculture in the country are,
1. Food security.
2. Earning foreign exchange.
3. Poverty reduction.
4. Improved income and status of women.
5. Alternative to poppy production.
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Multiple roles of Agriculture:

17. MAIL’S MASTER PLAN:
Currently we are working on the following goals.
1. Agriculture growth and poverty reduction.
2. Horticulture improvement.
3. Livestock production systems improvement.
4. Overcoming on Food security.
5. Management of natural resources.
6. Research and technology transfer.
7. Privatization and private sector development.
8. Quality control and certification system.
9. Policy, monitoring, evaluation and planning.
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18. Afghanistan’s Income:
 The Afghan economy is primarily agriculture –based.
 About 85% people depends directly or indirectly on farm income.
 Over 600,000 farmers produce horticultural products.
 Prewar in 1970s, 43 % of total export earning accounted by Horticulture products dry
fruit, nuts and fresh fruits.
 In 1970s, annual income was 600 million US $
 Before war, Afghanistan provided 20% of raisin to the global market and dominated
pistachio market.
 Exports income in 2012 around $376 million estimated.
 Grapes are biggest fruit crop with estimated value of US$180 Million in 2003.
 2nd largest fruit by production is Pistachio with estimated value US$95 million in 2003.
 Other export goods are afghan rugs, wool, cotton, hides, gemstone and mines.
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19. Exports
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Wool factory Exhibition of Afghani rugs Quality rugs are making by women. at Wardag province
Harvest of Cotton Transportation of cotton Different types of Gemstones

20. Horticulture Improvement:
Objectives are
 Product for processing, processing factories for raisin and nuts, post harvest
handling, export of fresh fruit and packing of products.
 Finding of valuable new markets.
 Dissemination of expertise through extension services.
 Increasing availability of high quality varieties and planting inputs.
 Commitment of financial resources.
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21. NRM.
Priorities
1. Watershed and forestry management
2. Soil management
3. Weather
Terraces for planting and watershed management Collection zone of water, Hashar 21

22. NR Basic Problems:
• Deforestation ( Overcutting)
• Overgrazing or
desertification
• Unplanned urbanization
• Over population
• Poverty
• Unemployment
• Shifting agriculture
• No energy
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23. Terraces:
• Let us have a look to terraces
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Please Click me here

24. Watershed Management and Forestry
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25. Project of Watershed and Pine Nut
My implemented project of Pine nut.
 CBO,S / micro-Project /
 Selection of place,
 Planting materials and inputs/ labor
costs
 Nursery or Direct planting
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26. Have a look to Livestock in Afghanistan
• Half of Agriculture GDP derive from livestock.
• It is a key component b/c of its importance.
• 1.5 million nomadic kuchi people.
 We have commercial advantages of the following animals.
 Bees
 Camels
 Cattle
 Goats
 Poultry
 Sheep
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27. Livestock
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28. Importance of livestock.
They provide us
• Animal power for crop farming, where machinery is not
applicable.
• Milk and meat for household consumption and sale.
• Manure as a natural fertilizer .
• Dung is used as a fuel for cooking and heating.
• Wool, hides and skins are important exports.
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29. Part C:
A view of Fruit Culture in Afghanistan
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30. Part C:
Contents of Part C
1. Introduction of Fruits and their cultivars.
2. GAP (Good Agriculture Practices).
3. Harvest, Process and Market.
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31. C1: Fruits and Cultivars
Priority of Fruits Based on informal Discussions with MAIL Personnel.
Commercial
1. Very High Priority : Grapes and Raisin
2. High Priority: Almonds, Pistachio, Apple , Pomegranate.
3. Medium Priority: Apricot, Plum and Prunes, Peach, Walnut, Citrus, Figs,
Mulberry
4. Lower Priority: Pine nut, Olive,
Domestics consumption of
1. Other minor fruits: Cherry, Jujube, Straw berry, Persimmon, Pear, Loquat ,
Date plum
You might unfamiliar with some of them so plz follow pictures
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32. 32

33. Grapes and Raisin:
Initial problems of Grapes in
Afghanistan:
 Trellising
 Pruning
 Variety selection
 Gibberellins application
 Markets and meeting custom
standards
 Reducing water wastage in
irrigation
 IPM for Grapes ( Downy mildew,
powdery mildew, cicadas, spider
mites)
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It is very broad to state the varieties and problems of every fruit but
let us have a look to grapes and citrus.

34. Opportunities:
 Excellent market in Pakistan, India and Middle east for seedless.
 Trellising is spreading day by day.
 Develop of rootstock which are resistant to insects and diseases.
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35. Varieties:
 140 - NC of PHDP
 Very popular varieties of grapes in Afghanistan
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36. Traditional ways to make
raisin:
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• drying in shade or mud bricks
•Traditional hanging system
•Modified traditional grape
hanging system
•Alternative grape hanging
system

37. Alternative grape hanging
system
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Grapes laid on netting and
highly reduce labor req
•rack width= 1m
•Total rack height=3-4m
•Distance btw drying shelves
=50-100cm depends on
farmer
•Rack frame material= iron
Conclusions: the best quality raisin is produced using the traditional mud
brick structures with grapes hung from wooden stakes. The use of stakes
strung like a rope ladder increase capacity of the facility.

38. Let’s have a look to Citrus:
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39. Nursery Management of Fruit crops:
Problems of Nurseries in Afghanistan:
 No rule regulation for nursery fields.
 The parent of sapling is unknown(male or female)
 No quality in private sector nurseries.
 There is no system for the production and supply of root stock.
 Week government.
 No long term strategy, low quality plant materials
 Non existence of pollinators
 No difference b/w commercial and home gardening.
 Lack of certified varieties.
 It is expensive to produce quality sapling.
 Weak quarantine in boarders .
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Part C, 2: GAP

40. PHDP ( Perennial Horticulture Development
Program)
In 6 agro climacteric regions based on fruits crops.
• Importing of new varieties.
• Germplasm
• National collection
• Adaptive research
• Demonstration orchards
• Technical training and events
• Registered private nurseries
• Nursery Growers Associations
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41. Afghanistan’s Soil:
Priority Problems:
 High ph
 Low organic matter (0.2-2.5%)
 High amount of calcium carbonate
 High erosion potential,
 Poor soil structure
 Micronutrients deficiencies (iron, zinc, copper and boron)
 Soil fertility tests are low with nitrogen, variable level of phosphorus and
adequate level of potassium.
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42. Priority opportunities:
1. Additions of organic matter ( compost, cover crops, animal manures)
2. Mulches,
3. Conservation tillage
4. Crop rotation
5. Foliar application of nutrients
6. Correct fertilizer timing, placement and amount.
7. Testing fertilizer quality.
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43. Land preparation
 Deep ploughed, harrowed
 Add Chemical fertilizer and manure.
 weeding
 Breaking of clods
 leveling
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44. Chemical Fertilizer and Organic:
Two main chemical fertilizer:
 Urea (N.P.K) (46-0-0) white fertilizer ( carbamide)
 Diammonium phosphate (DAP) (18-46-0)
 P2O5, K2O
Organic manure:
1. Animal manure
2. Night soil (human manure)
3. Green manure
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45. Amount and time of fertilizer
 DAP at planting 25kg/jerieb
 Urea usually to field crops, planting, tillering and flowering (50kg/j)
 Animal manure (5-20t/ha)
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46. Orchard layout based on a
triangle 1. Establish a straight baseline, usually next to a fence or roadway (3-5m)
2. Another rope tie with that nail at the other side of field which variable.
3. Adjust the other segment to met with right angle triangle.
4. Make a right angle triangle to baseline using Pythagoras theorem.
5. Stick along baseline and right angle line with desire row and tree spacing using tape
or knotted rope.
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Baseline with 3-5 m to roadway
Variable segment
4m
4 * 5 m Planting
A2+B2=C2

47. Orchard layout:
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5m
3m
4m

48. Staff training 22-25 November 2009 48

49. 49

50. Planting:

51. Care for newly set fruit plants:
 Cut back the new plants immediately after planting
 Stacking of plants
 Tie the tree loosely
 Protect tree trunks for sunscald
 A thick layer of mulch
 Control weed (glypost, round off)
 Frequent irrigation
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52. Irrigation:
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• Furrow Irrigation
•Basin
•Flood
•Drip

53. Intercropping and
Covercroping:
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• Nitrogen fixation
•Green manure
•Increase population of pollinators
•Protecting of erosion by water and air
water and wind
•Providing a firm surface for harvesting
•No ground water pollution by spraying
•Crowding out harm weeds
•Infiltration of water
•Helping manage water in the planting

54. Training and Pruning of Deciduous fruits:
We use three types of systems: for almond, apricot, plum,
apple, peach, pear,
 Centre leader system ( walnut, pistachio, pin nut…,
 Open center system (almond, apricot, plum, apple,
peach, pear…)
 Modified center system( apple, fig, …
 Depends on crop, climate, seasons, production
goal, etc
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55. Training and Pruning of Grapes:
 Traditional Bush vine system and its conversion to I-Trellising
 T- Trellising
 I- trellising
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T-Trellising I-Trellising

56. C3: Harvest, Process and
Market
 Pick your own
 By hands
 By machines
 By chemicals
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57. Process:
 Very less amount of fruits goes to
processing in Afghanistan while a
large portion used in form of fresh
fruits.
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58. Market:
 Afghanistan’s dry fruits, nuts and fresh fruits have
well demanded market in Pakistan, India, UAE,
China, and Russia
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59. Thank you for your attention.
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