QALA-E-NAW, Afghanistan, April 16 (Xinhua) -- More than 25,000 pistachio saplings have been distributed for plantation in Afghanistan's western Badghis province, the local government said Saturday.
It said the young trees were distributed over the past six days as part of its efforts to fight deforestation and support farmers in the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw and suburban districts.
The saplings have been grown for one year in a research farm near Qala-e-Naw, the local government said in a statement.
The move comes after heavy logging by locals in the natural pistachio forests in the province in recent years.
The local area of pistachio forests is now below 30,000 hectares, compared with over 90,000 hectares in the past, while local farmers have reportedly planted nearly 4 hectares of land with pistachio trees over the last one decade, said the local government statement.
Afghanistan's western region is known for its quality pistachio.
The Taliban-led caretaker government has speeded up its efforts to solve problems facing Afghan farmers and help them use advanced technologies in farming, according to officials.
