Announcement

Afghanistan’s Alkoni Melons Gain Popularity in India

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Sunday, November 30, 2008

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Alkoni melons are carefully packaged for export.

Across Afghanistan, Alkoni melons are celebrated for their intensely sweet flavor and rich, nutritional value.  With help from USAID, shoppers in New Delhi’s Azadpur markets are also enjoying the Afghan melons.

Since early September 2008, USAID has been working with farmers in northern Afghanistan to export and sell their melons to India’s markets.  Although these hearty melons generally fare well against the rigors of transport, poor packaging left about 25 percent of them ruined before they reached their destination.

To reduce these losses, USAID trained farmers and transporters how to clean, handle and package the melons.  In addition, USAID provided high-quality packing material.  As a result, fewer melons are lost in the journey and more are sold in the markets. This year, Afghanistan’s farmers have shipped 640 metric tons of melons to India and seen nearly $250,000 in sales.  The healthy profits encourage farmers to grow legal crops and give them an opportunity to expand their farms and businesses.