Afghan Farmers Bank on Cauliflower Crop

Many attempts have been made to find a crop that offers a commercially viable alternative to opium poppies in Afghanistan. Farmers in the eastern Nangarhar province say they might have the answer – the humble cauliflower.

The vegetable grows well in many districts of Nangarhar, and cultivation is increasing.

Local agriculture official Mohammad Shoaib says cauliflowers can earn growers up to 50,000 afghanis (roughly 1,000 US dollars) an acre, making it a good alternative to the illegal opium poppy.

Farmers say the main obstacle facing them is that prices collapse at harvest time, so that they are left with tons of unsold cauliflowers. Some of the crop is taken and sold in other parts of Afghanistan or over the border in Pakistan, but farmers say the agriculture department should help improve transport links.

One farmer called Belal told IWPR that officials were not supplying fertilisers, although department staff insisted they were helping with seeds and marketing efforts.

Zabihullah Ghazi is an IWPR-trained reporter in Jalalabad.