Economy

In photos: persimmon orchards flourish once again in Mohmand District

By Alamgir Khan

A farmer in Mohmand District picks persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A farmer in Mohmand District picks persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A farmer in Mohmand District picks persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A farmer in Mohmand District picks persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A young man sells persimmons in Mohmand District December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A young man sells persimmons in Mohmand District December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

Farmers in Mohmand District pack persimmons before sending them to the market December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

Farmers in Mohmand District pack persimmons before sending them to the market December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

Farmers put persimmons in boxes on December 3 in Mohmand District. [Alamgir Khan]

Farmers put persimmons in boxes on December 3 in Mohmand District. [Alamgir Khan]

A farmer sells crates of persimmons to a customer on December 3 in Mohmand District. [Alamgir Khan]

A farmer sells crates of persimmons to a customer on December 3 in Mohmand District. [Alamgir Khan]

Farmers pack persimmons in an orchard in Mohmand District December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

Farmers pack persimmons in an orchard in Mohmand District December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A worker in Mohmand District arranges crates of persimmons before sending them to the market December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A worker in Mohmand District arranges crates of persimmons before sending them to the market December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

Customers in Mohmand District eat persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

Customers in Mohmand District eat persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A persimmon orchard in Mohmand District can be seen December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A persimmon orchard in Mohmand District can be seen December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

GHALANAI -- The persimmon business is now thriving in Mohmand tribal district with the return of peace.

"There was a time when most of the farmers were compelled to cut down their trees because of militancy," said Naveed Ullah, a resident of Ekka Ghund Tehsil in Mohmand District.

"Farmers had to cut down fruit trees on more than 100 acres in Ekka Ghund Tehsil, which created a lot of unemployment," he said.

Militancy in the region caused shops and bazaars to close, which prevented farmers from selling their goods. In turn, the farmers stopped caring for the trees and eventually they dried out and were chopped down for firewood.

A farmer in Mohmand District picks persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

A farmer in Mohmand District picks persimmons December 3. [Alamgir Khan]

"Now, since peace has been established, businesses are back and we are able to sell our fruits at reasonable prices," he said.

Nisar Khan, a Peshawar-based businessman, had to buy fruit from far away when the security situation in Mohmand District was bad.

"Now two months ago, we bought the harvest of an orchard in Mohmand District for Rs. 250,000 ($1,600), and it gave us a profit of Rs. 500,000 ($3,200)," Nisar said, referring to the fruit's resale at market.

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