Almond production in Afghanistan facts for kids
Almonds are a popular nut, and Afghanistan is one of the top countries that grows them. In 2009, Afghanistan was ranked ninth in the world for almond production. Even though it produces only about 2% of the world's almonds, its production has been growing.
Within Afghanistan, the southwestern and northern areas grow the most almonds. Kandahar Province and Samangan Province are especially important. Other provinces like Uruzgan Province, Kunduz Province, Balkh Province, and Sar-e Pol Province also grow a lot. In 2012, farmers grew almonds on about 13,490 hectares of land. They produced a total of 62,000 tonnes of almonds that year! Afghanistan's climate is great for growing many different kinds of almonds, including both hard-shell and soft-shell types. The main countries that buy Afghan almonds are India and Pakistan, with India being a more profitable market.
Types of Almonds
Almonds are a type of fruit. There are two main kinds: sweet almonds (called Amygdalus communis) and bitter almonds (called Amygdalus amara).
In Afghanistan, almonds are often grouped into two main classes based on their shell:
- Soft-shell almonds: These are known locally as badam-e kaghaz, which means "paper almond." You can easily break these open with your hand.
- Hard/medium-shell almonds: These are called badam-e-sangi, meaning "stone almond." They are much tougher to open.
There are many different types within these classes. For example, Sattarbai is a popular soft-shell almond. It has its own varieties like Sattarbai Sufi and Sattarbai Guldar. Experts have found that Afghanistan has between 68 and 99 different types of almonds, each with its own local name!
Organizations have helped farmers grow more almonds. One project, called "IDEA-NEW," helped by giving 33,000 almond saplings (young trees) to 100 farmers. These saplings were planted in a large area of about 100 hectares (250 acres) in northern Afghanistan. This project has been very successful. Farmers learned new ways to plant and care for their almond trees, including how to set up good irrigation systems.
Farmers in Uruzgan province have also learned how to grow almonds for sale. They often grow bitter almonds, which are sometimes mixed with the sweet, more commonly sold types.
Another group, Roots of Peace, helped Afghan farmers by introducing bee farms near almond trees. At first, farmers were worried that the bees would harm their plants. But it turned out to be a great idea! The bees helped pollinate the almond trees, which made the almond yield (how much they produced) go up by about 40%.
Almond Production and Sales
In 2012, Afghanistan produced 62,000 metric tons of almonds. This was a small increase from the 60,610 metric tons produced in 2011. The provinces of Samangan, Baghlan, Tahar, and Parwan are big producers, with Samangan growing the most.
Most of the almonds grown in Afghanistan are eaten right there in the country. Only about 3% are sent to other countries. Afghan almonds are sold both with their shells on and without. When they are exported, Afghan almonds are just as good as those from California and cheaper than those from Spain. This makes them a good choice for selling to countries in Central and South Asia.
See Also
- Agriculture in Afghanistan
