Dramatic surge in onion prices perturbs Taloqan residents

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): A number of residents of this capital city of northern Takhar province of Afghanistan voice grave concern over a dramatic hike in the price of onion.
The residents claim if onions produced in Takhar province are preserved in cold storages and managed well, they can fulfill the needs of all other provinces of the country.
Sharifullah, a resident of Taloqan city, said onion prices went up unprecedentedly with the beginning of winter season and it has concerned people.
About three months ago, a kilogram of onion was sold for 12afs, but now the same quantity is sold for over 64afs, which people cannot afford, Sharifullah added.
Aminullah, another resident of Taloqan said: “There are no standard cold storages, there is no control over the market as well. When farmers collect onion harvest, they sell it at a cheap price due to lack of storages, so its prices go up in winter”.
He said people’s economic situation had worsened and the government should control prices in the market and build cold storages for preservation of such products.
Zamanuddin, a farmer, said: “I grew onions on half an acre of land, the harvest was good compared to previous years, but I had no access to cold storages so I sold the onions at a throwaway price and now I cannot buy onions for myself.”
He stressed the importance of cold storages and if onions produced in Takhar were managed well, they could be enough for the whole country.
Maulvi Rahimullah Ahadi, the Agriculture and Livestock director, confirmed the lack of standard cold storages in the province.
However, he said efforts were being made construct cold storages which would enable farmers to preserve their products.
Takhar is an agricultural province and onions produced in the province can be enough for the entire country if properly managed.