Effect of Management and Constraints on Grape Farming: A Case Study in Mirbachakot, Kalakan and Shakardara Districts of Kabul, Afghanistan

抄録

The skillful management is one of the foremost important success factors for today’s farms. When a farm is well managed, it can generate funds for its sustainability. Grape is one of the most diffuse fruits in the world and Afghanistan. Grape is covering an estimated 82,450 hectare which is equivalent 48% of the total fruit growing area with estimated 874.500 tons production and the average yield per year is 8.5 ton/h. Although fresh grape is one of the cash crops however, the quality and quantity are not satisfactory for producers and external markets. The situation has not changed with the years. Therefore, a survey was conducted in 2017 with 60 grape growers, supported by questionnaires in Mirbachakot, Kalakan and Shakardara Districts of Kabul province. The purpose was to get an understanding of 1) current socio-demographic characteristics of farmers, 2) management methods, 3) constraints factors, 4) and contribution of grape farming to household income. Findings indicate that grape farming was predominant 83.3% male activity and main source of annual income. Further, 60% of small-scale grape producers had less than one hectare of land under grape production. Likewise, 50% had more than 10 years and 33.3% between 1-5 years’ experience in grape farming. Improper vine training, poor canopy management and weak postharvest vineyard management were the core factors for incidence of pest and disease which put negative effect on grape production. Moreover, high level of farmer’s illiteracy and diseases had significant digit effect on growth, yield and quality of grapes. Hence the low quality and quantity of grape are influenced by poor management methods, such as non-availability experts, lack of technical guidance and high initial investment was the severest constraint’s factor for development of grape farming in the study site. Thereby the study recommended and suggested that improved managerial skills of farmers and providing initial investment material for grape producers could contribute to address the problems.