Almond production in Afghanistan
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Almond production in Afghanistan is a significant contributor to the nation's agricultural economy. In 2009, it was ranked ninth in the FAO list of almond-producing countries of the world, though its domestic production is limited to 2% of the world production.[1] Afghanistan's almond production has shown a rising trend in the recent decades. Within the country, the southwestern and northern regions have the maximum area under cultivation with Kandahar and Samangan provinces,[2][3] accounting for much of its production, followed by the provinces of Uruzgan, Kunduz, Balkh, Saripul and Daykundi.[1][4][5][6] As of 2012, the cultivated area of almonds was 13,490 ha with a yield rate of 45,960 hectograms (one hectogram = 100 grams) per ha, recording a total yield of 62,000 tonnes, with conducive climatic conditions for growing variety of almond landraces of hard shell and soft shell varieties.[7][8] The preferred markets for the export of Afghan almonds are India and Pakistan,[9][5] with the former preferred because of better profitability.[10]