Year 2026, Volume 11, Issue 1
| Year : | 2026 |
| Volume : | 11 |
| Issue : | 1 |
| Authors : | Nawab NASIR, Din Mohammad MUSHFIQ |
| Title : | POTATO PRODUCTION: CULTIVATION PRACTICES, LIMITATIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT IN CHAPARHAR, NANGARHAR, AFGHANISTAN |
| Abstract : | Potato cultivation plays an important role in the agricultural economy of Chaparhar district, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, where the crop is grown in both spring and autumn seasons. Despite its importance, farmers possess limited knowledge of cultivar characteristics and typically distinguish tubers only by skin color, commonly referred to as red or white varieties. Field observations and farmer interviews conducted during the 2024 and 2025 cropping seasons revealed that red-skinned potatoes were preferred due to higher market prices, although yields remained modest, with each plant producing an average of 3 to 4 tubers. Approximately 2.40 t ha-1 of seed tuber produced 11.35 t ha-1 of marketable output. Harvesting, sorting, and packaging were conducted manually at the farm level, with produced potatoes transported to urban markets such as Kabul, Ghazni, and Bamyan. Key constraints identified included poor seed quality, limited access to certified planting materials, water scarcity, pest and disease pressures, inadequate pest diagnosis, postharvest losses, and weak extension services. Despite these challenges, potato farming remains a critical livelihood source for smallholders. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating field surveys, farmer interviews, and literature review to assess existing cultivation practices, identify gaps, and recommend feasible interventions. Findings highlight seed system improvement, efficient irrigation, integrated pest management, enhanced storage, and knowledge dissemination as major opportunities to improve productivity, reduce losses, and strengthen market linkages in the region. |
| Keywords : | Market, Potato farming, Postharvest, Smallholders. |
ISSN 2490-3434 (Printed)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
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