Paktika PRT helps farmers grow crops year-round

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Several farmers throughout Paktika Province received materials to construct greenhouses on their properties after receiving training at district centers throughout the province that concluded Oct. 28.

The greenhouses will allow several farmers in a village to collectively harvest crops year-round in order to feed their families and create a source of income.

“In Paktika, we have good soil, but because it’s cold, we can’t grow anything in the winter,” said Ihsanullah Patan, the Afghan official who oversees construction and distribution of the structures throughout the province. “But with a greenhouse, farmers can grow vegetables through the winter to provide food for their family and also earn some extra income by selling the remaining vegetables at the bazaar.”

Following the training, local farmers who agree to dedicate a portion of their land to house the community greenhouse take a complete kit home at the end of their training.

The kit contains metal posts, wire, plastic covering and netting, a water barrel and a drip irrigation system.

In addition, the farmers will receive a compost box to assist them in creating their own renewable source of fertilizer. The fertilizer will be mixed with the soil under the greenhouse to provide nutrients to continue to produce vegetables each year.

Up to five families will be able to use a single greenhouse through the winter to grow vegetables, a luxury not currently available due to the adverse winter weather in the province.

The greenhouses, purchased from an Afghan company, can be assembled by a five-man team in less than three days. The 5x10 meter structures can maintain a constant temperature of approximately 65 to 70 degrees in the winter, providing ideal growing conditions for vegetables.

In addition, due to their unique construction, the greenhouses shorten the amount of time needed to produce vegetables. Crops planted outside require three to four months to harvest. With a greenhouse, the time is shortened to one to two months, said Patan.

The greenhouses also protect the crops from diseases and insects, two constant concerns for Afghan farmers in the area.

“This is a great way to provide a sustainable food source for the people of Paktika,” Patan said. “If cared for, the greenhouse can last several years, and if space is used appropriately, several families at a time can take advantage of the greenhouse each winter. It is a great way to provide food and even income for the residents of Paktika Province.”