At the beginning of the spring cultivation season, which brings the freshness of nature‘s renewal, farmers become busy with their work and strive to produce high–quality plants. The second day of the Solar New Year was declared “Farmers Day“ by the Republic regime in Afghanistan. Farmers would travel from their villages to the center of Ghazni and display their goods in open markets, where high–ranking government officials were present.
The enjoyment of this festival was enhanced by the young people playing traditional and ancient games during Nawroz and Farmers Day in Ghazni. Other forms of entertainment at this event included wrestling, archery, and playing with shovels and picks. The joy of Farmers Day, along with other festivals and holidays, was taken away from the people by the Taliban after the fall of the republic.
Statistics indicate that more than 70% of the population of Ghazni Province are employed in the agricultural and livestock industries. The primary agricultural commodities produced in this province are wheat, potatoes, onions, apples, grapes, and plums.
Hush–e–Subh reports indicate that many farmers in Ghazni province had been economically damaged due to the drought, unseasonal rains, and floods of the previous year, which had prevented them from making any revenue from their farms or paying workers for their labor. Furthermore, the Taliban had not offered any support to these farmers.
The Sultan Dam, located in the northern district of Ghazni, is one of the town‘s major sources of water for its agricultural needs. This dam supplies water to hundreds of acres of orchards and agricultural land in the Khaja Omari district, central Ghazni, and parts of Andar district. However, a fractured section of the dam‘s wall prevents sufficient water from being stored in the dam‘s center, putting the farmers in a precarious situation of water shortages.
Khaliqdad, a 54–year–old farmer whose farm is located along the Ghazni River‘s course in the Khaja–Umari district, where the river originates at the Sultan Dam, experienced a total loss of his crops the previous year due to floods and rain at the end of summer. He stated, “I worked hard from March August and September. I had to drill because of the low water seal. We began harvesting just as the rain started. The harvest was ruined in less than a week by rain and flooding. The rain damaged the plum tree, and the river destroyed the potatoes that were planted. I could not even spot a single plum growing.”
The farmer, who has planted potatoes on approximately two acres of land, states that he is also paying off costs from the previous year. He expresses hope that this year will bring monsoon rains and that there will be no further damaging floods, so that he can reap a decent crop. He goes on to say: “We place our faith in God, trusting that He will send rain this year when it is needed, show mercy, and prevent another flood from shattering the country. We are raising our hands in prayer, as I am able to cover this year‘s bills as well as the loans from last year.”
This farmers of Ghazni, similar to those in other provinces, plant wheat seeds and rely on rain to ensure the success of their crop. Unfortunately, due to the lack of rain during the spring of last year, the farmers of Ghazni planted less sorghum, resulting in the loss of their crops.
Lal Mohammad is another farmer who resides in the center of Ghazni. In addition to cultivating other crops, he also grows wheat. When speaking to Hasht-e-Subh, he stated that he planted less rice than the previous year. He explained: “Two years ago, we ploughed almost 10 acres of land, however, it did not rain twice in two months and the wheat all withered. We invested, we brought in tractors, we hired workers, yet we did not receive any results. Last year, we did not invest too much due to the fear of being punished like the previous year. If it rains, it is beneficial, however, if it does not, we are still in a difficult situation.”
Due to the worsening drought in the country, the majority of farmers have resorted to deep well drilling and the use of solar energy in order to provide water for their agricultural fields. In recent years, the excessive use of pure subterranean water in agricultural fields has caused the level of underground water to decrease. According to water experts, the country would soon be without drinkable water if agricultural water supplies were not managed properly.
Farmers in Ghazni are concerned about the drought and water shortages. They allege that the Taliban took money and imposed excessive taxes on them last year, despite the fact that their yields were meager due to droughts and natural disasters.