ESRJ

Exploring the Main Barriers to the Implementation of Agricultural Policies in Afghanistan

2024-10-20T06:51:29+00:00

The successful design and implementation of agricultural policies are crucial for consolidating the foundations of the Islamic system, fighting against poverty, achieving sustainable development, improving the economic and social status of farmers, defending independence, and achieving self-sufficiency in meeting the needs of citizens. However, statistics and research indicate that basic goals in the field of agriculture in Afghanistan have not been achieved yet, which suggests that agricultural policies have been incorrectly designed, incompletely implemented, or not implemented at all. To address this issue, applied descriptive research was conducted using the survey method to identify and prioritize the barriers to the implementation of agricultural policies in Afghanistan. The population of the research consisted of the employees of the Central and local Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, and a sample size of 363 people were selected by random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the required data, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to check its reliability. The questionnaire was also distributed to experts for validation and necessary amendments were made. For data analysis, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, KMO index, and Bartlett test were used with the SPSS program. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used through Expert Choice 11.0 software to rank the obstacles to implementing agricultural policies. The research findings showed that the main obstacles to the implementation of agricultural policies were related to the formulation and nature of the policy, managerial and structural obstacles, obstacles related to implementers, systemic obstacles, communication and technological obstacles, and local obstacles. Among these, obstacles related to the formulation and nature of agricultural policies had the greatest impact and was ranked as the strongest barrier to the implementation of agricultural policies.

Effect of Salinity Stress on Different Varieties of Afghan and Iranian Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

2024-11-19T09:50:19+00:00

Salinity is one of the most important environmental stresses that limits crop yields. Given the increasing trend of saline soils, identifying salt-tolerant varieties of melons is of significant importance. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in a split-plot design within a randomized complete block design with three replications to study the effect of irrigation water salinity on some physiological traits, as well as the growth and production of Afghan and Iranian melon varieties. Twelve melon varieties, including Afghan and Iranian varieties, were considered as the first factor, while two levels of water salinity (control and 8 dS/m from pure NaCl) were the second factor.The results showed that salinity stress increased proline concentration (44.85%), total antioxidant activity (8.52%), and sodium ion concentration (22.90%) compared to the control, while chlorophyll index ratio (23.86%), relative water content (9.44%), and potassium ion concentration in leaves (24.48%) decreased. Regarding fruit characteristics, salinity increased vitamin C (47.65%) and total soluble solids (TSS) (16.10%) and decreased yield (28.28%) compared to the control. Salinity stress led to the accumulation of proline in the leaves, which was associated with genotypes. As a result, proline accumulation in plants increased salt tolerance. The highest and lowest increase in proline concentration in leaves compared to the control were observed in the Hachkeh Joahri melon variety (129.33%) and the Abbasi melon variety (8.06%), respectively.

The Development of the agricultural products value chain and its regulation strategies

2024-10-06T10:19:00+00:00

Introduction and purpose: The inefficiency of the market of agricultural products has caused severe price fluctuations and dissatisfaction on both sides of the market, i.e. for the consumer and the producer. The market of agricultural products sometime facing a shortage of supply and sometime with a surplus of supply. In the market of agricultural products, the role of dealers in buying and selling and hoarding is very colorful. In this research, while investigating and identifying the active links related to the value chain of agricultural products, creating a strategic model of the agricultural products value chain and its implementation strategy have also been compiled in such a way that the role of actors in the market of production and trade of products has been defined in this model.

Materials and methods: In terms of purpose, this research is applied and in the field of qualitative research, and in terms of research method, it is a combination of reference and field methods. Information based on reference method and personal observation of the work of economic actors of agricultural products and holding a meeting with managers of the agricultural sector with a brainstorming approach and based on a slight change in Porter's model of the value chain of agricultural products, it was tried to formulate an implementation strategy for the formation of the value chain of agricultural products.

Findings: The findings of this research are the lack of awareness of the market factors about the value chain, the existence of economic issues and defective links that do not actually create value, the obstacles to creating continuity in the links of the supply and value chain in the agricultural products sector.

Discussion and conclusion: Acquaintance of entrepreneurs and economic activists in the field of agricultural products or the benefits of the value chain, drafting laws and support can help in developing and completing the value chains of agricultural products.

Adaptation and comparing the yield different varieties of sugar beet in baghlan province.

2024-10-19T06:16:09+00:00

In order to evaluate the adaptaion and compare the results of different varieties of Iranian and German sugar beet in Baghlan Province, an experiment was carried out in the form of a randomized complete block design with 4 replications, 5 treatments and 20 plots in the two cropping years of 1396 and 1397 in the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture of Baghlan University. The experimental treatments are T1, T2, T3, T4, T5.

The composite variance analysis of the root yield of different cultivars of the tested treatments showed that there was a significant difference between the different treatments of Sugar beet in terms of yield (P≤0.05). Also, the interaction effect of year and treatments under experiment was also significant. The highest yield in both crop years belonged to the T3 treatment with an average of 97.4 tons per hectare and the lowest yield belonged to the T1 treatment with an average of 71.1 tons per hectare among the treatments under experiment.

In terms of sugar percentage, the highest sugar percentage belonged to T4 treatment with an average of 15.3 and the lowest sugar percentage belonged to T2 treatment with an average of 11.9. In addition, the highest percentage of nematode destruction belonged to the T5 treatment with an average of 7.4% and the lowest percentage of nematode destruction belonged to the T3 treatment with an average of 2.7% among the tested treatments.

مطالعه ای بیوانفارمتیکی انزایم دی هالوجنیز DehlB4 از باکتریای Bradyrhizobium elkanii strain BR29 مطالعه ای کمپیوتری ساختمان سه بعدی انزایم انزایم دی هالوجنیز DehlB4 از باکتریای Bradyrhizobium elkanii strain BR29 مطالعه ای ساختمان سه بعدی انزایم انزایم دی هالوجنیز DehlB4 از باکتریای Bradyrhizobium elkanii strain BR29

2024-12-07T10:14:35+00:00

Halogenated organic compounds exist in great quantity in the biosphere and can cause extensive problems due to their toxic properties and persistence in nature. They can affect the quality of life of human beings and other living organisms. The degradation of these compounds by microorganisms is salient in reducing pollutants. Bradyrhizobium elkanii is a nitrogen-fixing bacteria that lives in symbiosis with plant roots, particularly legumes. To the best of our knowledge, up to now, there is no evidence to indicate that Bradyrhizobium elkanii can produce haloacid dehalogenase type II enzymes. Thus, the current study used proteogenomics techniques for homology modeling and docking assessment of a newly identified dehalogenase type II (namely, DehlB4) to predict its ability to degrade selected halogenated compounds. A total of sixty-seven genomes of Bradyrhizobium elkanii strains from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were searched for dehalogenase genes. These strains notably carry dehalogenase genes. Surprisingly, Bradyrhizobium elkanii strain BR29 contains five dehalogenases, and therefore strain BR29 was further characterized. The study aimed to probe the enzyme's catalytic tendencies to optimally breakdown the selected haloacids. The modeled structure of DehlB4 was composed of a core and a cap domain. The modeled structure of DehlB4 revealed satisfactory scores on the ERRAT (90.65%), Verify3D (88.54%), and PROCHECK (100%) assessments. The active site was anticipated by docking and multiple sequence alignment assessments for possible pollutant degradation. The amino acids R40 and N174 were predicted to be catalytically important. The indispensable residue D9 which acts as a nucleophile was conserved with the crystalized structure of DehIVa and L-DEX consequently indicating a robust result of the current research. The proteogenomics study as such has a good potential for screening new types of dehalogenases and characterization of newly identified dehalogenases based on basic molecular structure and function analysis.

Challenges and Opportunities of the Internet of Things in Agriculture in Afghanistan

2024-02-07T11:54:05+00:00

The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has surfaced as a transformative technology with applications in various domains, including agriculture. This study investigates the challenges and opportunities of IoT in agriculture, focusing on the context of Afghanistan. With agriculture playing a pivotal role in the country's economy and food security, embracing the technologies of the Internet of Things (IoT) holds the capacity to bring about a revolution in the agricultural industry. Through a comprehensive literature review, surveys, and interviews, this research evaluates the integration of IoT in agriculture in Afghanistan. The study identifies several challenges, including limited infrastructure and technology access, inadequate farmer awareness, and scarcity of information and training resources. These obstacles hinder the effective implementation of IoT solutions, which can address issues such as water scarcity, limited market access, and low productivity. Through an examination of the influence of IoT on agricultural productivity, this research underscores the transformative capabilities of IoT within Afghanistan's agricultural industry. Real-time monitoring, precision farming, water management, and resource optimization represent a subset of the benefits provided by IoT technologies. The research aims to provide valuable recommendations for successful IoT implementation, considering a multi-stakeholder approach involving farmers, technology providers, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders. The significance of this research lies in its potential to increase agricultural productivity and contribute to economic development and sustainability in Afghanistan. The findings and recommendations can also have implications for other developing countries facing similar challenges in their agricultural sectors. By shedding light on the benefits and challenges of IoT in agriculture, this study contributes to the global discourse on sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Effect of Different Planting Distance and Weight of Saffron Corms on Its Yield in Kabul and Maidan Wardak Provinces

2025-01-28T05:25:10+00:00

The experiment under was conducted in agro- climatic condition of Agriculture research farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University and Dorani of Maidan Wardak Provence. With the objective to study the effect of planting distance and corm weight on the yield of growth of saffron. As a result, the number of flowers per plot in 5,10 and 15cm were product as 53,3, 42.2, and 38.2 respectively. The number of flowers were 24.1, 46.7 and 72.6 produced by corm weight 6,9 and 11 gr respectively. Same as above number of flowers per plot in 5cm cultivation distance (47.3), in 10cm cultivation distance (41.2), in 15cm cultivation distance (38.3) flowers per plot produced. Probably 99% significant difference is between different distances. Number of flowers per plot in different weight of saffron corms are significant difference in smallest weight 6gr weight produced (22.2) flowers, in 9gr weight produced (38.2) flowers and in 11gr weight produced (75.7) flowers per plot. Probably 99% significant difference is between different weights.

Citrus production management to support self-sufficiency in Afghanistan (a case study of district bati kot-nangarhar)

2025-01-28T05:34:31+00:00

Afghanistan is one of the countries with the highest hunger levels as per Global Huger Index 2021 ranks 103^rd out of 116 countries which need additional efforts to eliminate the insecurity of food and switch towards self-sufficiency. The development of agriculture sector is mainly dependent upon the sharing of reliable information of agricultural extension workers which is necessary for agricultural production and enhancing the marketing and distributive strategies. The present study was conducted for citrus production management to support the self-sufficiency of citrus (sweet orange) in Afghanistan in the year 2023. Citrus growers were randomly selected from five villages of District Bati Kot by using proportional allocation method through pretested interview schedule in the coldest months of the year. Data were analyzed through SPSS V20 and results were presented as counts, graphs and percentages. Moreover, rank order, mean and standard deviation were used to know the extension workers’ expertise, while chi-square test was used to find the association between the different variables. The results revealed that most of the citrus growers were in the middle age of 31-50 years where 55 percent citrus growers were illiterate and 45 percent of them have formal education from primary to intermediate level. About 43.3% of citrus growers in the study area were in the joint family system of above 12 members. Majority (73.3%) citrus growers practiced intercropping in their citrus orchards, whereas 64% citrus growers have knowledge of planting density. Maximum were cultivating the variety 7007 as told by the extension workers by giving them the knowledge of improved citrus varieties as per response of 41% citrus growers. Majority (61%) citrus growers revealed about the availability of extension services. Overwhelming majority sold their citrus fruits through middle man due to no marketing awareness. The ranking skills of extension workers as perceived by citrus growers in picking was the forecasting maturity and yield was on top with mean value 3.47 and standard deviation 1.099 while, in post picking, knowledge of post-harvest losses was on top priority with mean value 2.77 and standard deviation 1.11. The highly signification association was found between the age and literacy status with average yield along with picking of citrus production. Extending workers may be trained in collecting and processing of citrus fruits and understanding of post-harvest losses during marketing through various training sessions who in turn will train citrus growers to sell their products directly by not involving middleman and control the post-harvest losses by improving their socio economic status along with increasing their interest in citrus production to bring sell-sufficiency in citrus fruit for battering the economy of Afghanistan.

Response of N, P, K on Corm production, vegetative Growth and spike of Red Ginger variety of Gladiolus under Partial shades of Apple orchids in jammu

2025-01-28T05:43:42+00:00

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of fertilizer levels on vegetative growth, flowering and com production attributes in gladiolus Cultivar Red Ginger under partial shades of apple orchard. Significantly number of leaves per plant and number of florets per spike remaining open at a time were recorded with treatment N₅₀P₂₅K₂₅ g/m², whereas significantly maximum plant height was obtained by application of N₄₀P₂₀K₂₀ g/m². Treatment N₁₀P₅K₅g/m² advanced the time for showing colour in the first floret. Application of N₄₀P₂₀K₂₀ g/m² significantly increased spike length, number of florets per spike, diameter of first floret, life of spike at well as durability of whole spike under field and thus found as optimal dose for these floral characters. A gradual, steady and significant increase in corms produced per plant, corm size and weight as well as number of cormels per plant was observed with increasing fertilizer levels recording highest values at N₅₀P₂₅K₂₅ g/m²

Performance of External Agricultural Trade during the Last Two Decades in Afghanistan

2025-01-28T07:24:02+00:00

The study analysed the performance of external agricultural trade in Afghanistan during last two decades (2000-2019). The study was based on the secondary data collected from FAOSTAT official website on imports/exports of different agricultural commodities in value terms (US$). The study aims to assess the performance, growth rate and instability of exports and imports of key agricultural commodities viz. cereals, fruits, vegetables, pulses and total agricultural products. In order to examine the performance in addition to descriptive analysis the exponential form of growth function (CAGR) and Cuddy-Della-Valle-Index (CDVI) were also applied and t statistics was used to test the significance of compound growth rate. In fact Afghanistan is well known globally for its variety of fruits (fresh and dried) and vegetables production and exports, but political disturbance in the country has adversely affected the external agricultural trade due to emergence of threat of business risk, also caused a damage to the country’s infrastructure and irrigation system, which further resulted in decline in agricultural production, turning a country into a major importer of cereals, fruits & vegetables that was once approaching to self–sufficiency in crop production. The analysis revealed that over the period the performance of external agricultural trade, particularly of exports had grown significantly. Also, the external agricultural trade, though, was unstable during the period, but the instability was varied depended on the type of the commodities. This calls for implementation of well thought agricultural development policy under the direction of a committed leadership.

Insect abundance and diversity associated with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) agricultural ecosystem in Kunduz city

2025-01-28T07:15:31+00:00

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Linnaeus.) holds significance as a vital vegetable crop in Afghanistan but it is often infested by various species of pests, leading to significant crop damage. The research aimed to assess the abundance and diversity of insects in the agricultural ecosystem of okra. The experiment laid out at the experimental farm of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock Directorate. Four sampling methods, including visual observation, pitfall traps, sweep nets, and yellow sticky traps, were employed. A total of 36 families belong to 9 orders were identified. There was considerable variation in insect abundance across different orders (F = 501.81, d.f = 7, 96; P < 0.05), with hemiptera being the most abundant order (2.94 ± 0.06). Differences in feeding habits were significant (F = 597.05, d.f = 6, 84; P < 0.05), with sap-feeders having the highest abundance (2.93 ± 0.06). The families cicadellidae among pests and hormicidae among natural enemies were recorded as the most abundant. Int terms of diversity, the analysis revealed a significant difference among feeding habits (F = 52.41, d.f = 6, 119; P < 0.05). Notably, predators exhibited the highest diversity (1.57 ± 0.08), Moreover, a notable disparity in diversity emerged between pests and natural enemies (F = 212.66, d.f = 1, 24; P < 0.05), with non-pests (natural enemies) showcasing the greatest abundance and variety (mean value of H’=1.80 ± 0.06). The findings of this research contribute valuable knowledge for enhancing eco-friendly and sustainable practices in pest management, particularly through the promotion of biological control methods.

Physiological changes in apple fruit in response to physical damage received during post-harvest handling practices

2025-01-28T07:51:34+00:00

The apple fruit quality features decrease during improper harvesting and post-harvest handling practices. The apple fruits primarily undergo mechanical damages, like bruised impact, and compression forces. Besides increasing the production level, care and optimization during harvesting and post-harvest operations are necessary for preserving the quality and maintaining the storage life. Therefore, this work aims to observe the physiological changes in apple fruit caused by physical damage and compression during post-harvest operations. The experiment comprised five treatments of a combination of fruits dropped before storage and compressed during storage. In apple fruits, the bruising led to elevated ethylene production levels (1.65-19.81 nL ethylene g^-1 h^-1), which induced respiration rates and weight loss. Enhanced ethylene was observed particularly in dropped and laterally compressed fruits. The firmness levels, however gradually declined in all treatments. The sugar contents of the stored apples were slightly enhanced, while the acidity level gradually reduced. On the other hand, the flesh color range (L*, a*, b*) values had variation, but it was not significant. Nevertheless, the bruising area in the surface and flesh parts due to free dropping was expanded and affected the quality. On the whole, free dropping and compression on the lateral sides of the fruit triggered increased bruised area and physiological changes. Proper harvesting and post-harvest handling practices are the primary concerns to take into consideration in Afghanistan. Establishing post-harvest facilities, such as processing centers, local and typical storage facilities, and market infrastructures is recommended to be necessary for decreasing losses and maintaining quality and shelf life.

Yield and economics response of two cultivars of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) to different potassium levels

2025-01-28T08:43:47+00:00

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Agriculture Faculty, Kandahar University, during May–August, 2019 to assess the yield and economics of two Mungbean genotypes under semi-arid conditions in Kandahar. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized block design with three replications and consisted of five treatments of potassium fertilizer levels (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80) K₂O kg ha^-1 on two Mungbean genotypes (viz., NM-94 and ‘Kunduzy’). The result indicate that significant higher grain yield (1,438.2 kg ha^-1), stover yield (3,208.7 kg ha^-1), biological yield (4,646.8 kg ha^-1), Gross returns (116,717.3 AFN ha^-1), Net returns (85,642.3 AFN ha^-1), and B:C ratio (3.72) were recorded for NM-94. Application of 80 kg K₂O ha^-1 significantly higher yield such as grain yield (1,813.0 kg ha^-1), stover yield (3,250.0 kg ha^-1) and biological yield (5,063.0 kg ha^-1) were recorded and Significantly higher value of economic parameters gross returns (143,160.0 AFN ha^-1), net returns (106,085.0 AFN ha^-1) and B:C ratio (3.86%) were recorded with 80 kg K₂O ha^-1. Furthermore, K₂O application at the rate of 80 kg ha^-1 increased grain yield, Stover yield, and biological yield at 107.0, 22.7, and 43.6% compared to control plots, respectively. Overall, NM-94 is the most suitable variety and application of 80 kg K₂O ha^-1 in order to achieve optimum yields, profitability, and resource-use efficiency under the semi-arid conditions of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON ADOPTION AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN AFGHAN AGRICULTURE

2025-01-28T08:33:19+00:00

Agriculture is a vital sector in Afghanistan, contributing significantly to the country's growth and development. However, the sector faces several challenges that have hindered its growth and development, including inadequate infrastructure, limited market access, and low productivity. This review paper critically examines the transformative potential of technology adoption in advancing Afghan agriculture towards self-sufficiency. The review delves into the current state of technology adoption, emphasizing precision agriculture, digital platforms, and innovative research as key components of the modernization process by providing a holistic understanding of technology's impact on Afghan agriculture. The paper evaluates the tangible impact of technology on agricultural productivity, shedding light on increased yields, resource efficiency, and improved farm management practices. Despite these advancements, challenges in widespread adoption are identified, including limited access to resources and infrastructural constraints. The review emphasizes the importance of precision agriculture and digital platforms, showcasing their role in optimizing resource use and facilitating data-driven decision-making. The review also highlights the need for investment in research and development to improve crop yields and quality and adopt modern farming techniques and technologies. The paper also identifies the need for infrastructure development to support the sector, including road construction, provision of storage facilities, and processing plants. By synthesizing these elements, the paper contributes valuable insights to policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders aiming to propel Afghanistan toward a self-sufficient and technologically advanced agricultural sector. Furthermore, with the right mix of policies and investments, the country's agricultural sector can become self-sufficient and contribute to the country's overall economic growth. Thus, recommendations are proposed to navigate these complexities effectively.