STORY: Orange groves revive hope for Afghan farmers
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 2, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 10, 2025
LENGTH: 00:03:21
LOCATION: NANGARHAR, Afghanistan
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/AGRICULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of farmers in orange orchards
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): TAJ MOHAMMAD, Farmer
3. various of farmers in orange orchards
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): AYAZ AHMAD, Farmer
5. various of farmers in orange orchards
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD AYUB, Tourist
7. various of farmers in orange orchards

STORYLINE:

Orange orchards in the Bati Kot district of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan are in the harvest season.

Local farmers like 48-year-old Taj Mohammad are busy harvesting and packaging

SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): TAJ MOHAMMAD, Farmer
"We pack 5,600 kg of oranges daily and send them to Kabul as well as locally. We are happy to have orange orchards in Afghanistan. It's a pleasure to harvest produce from our homeland. The income supports my family of 10."

Agriculture in Afghanistan suffered greatly due to decades of war. Now, farmers are trying to rebuild their livelihoods.

During the orange harvest season, Ayaz Ahmad relocated from Kunar province to Nangarhar. He rented an orchard, which is estimated to be worth between 600,000 and 700,000 afghani (about 8,500 to 9,900 USD). 

Ayaz has hired 20 workers to help manage the orchard during Nangarhar's two-month harvesting season.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): AYAZ AHMAD, Farmer
"The oranges have a beautiful color and delightful aroma. This is my job every year, and it keeps my family's economy stable."

The thriving orange orchards not only boost farmers' incomes but also attract visitors from across the country. People from other regions travel to Nangarhar to enjoy the groves.

Mohammad Ayub traveled miles to experience the orange gardens in the Bati Kot district.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD AYUB, Tourist
"We heard about the oranges grown here and wanted to see them for ourselves. It's a joy to walk in these beautiful orchards, picking fresh, organic oranges with our own hands. The fruit is delicious, and the experience is unforgettable."

Officials from the Nangarhar Provincial Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock said in a statement that farmers had harvested 77,000 kg of oranges in the season.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nangarhar, Afghanistan.
(XHTV)