Taliban Destroy Tomato Farms in Logar Province

RASC News Agency: Local sources in Logar province report that the Taliban have systematically destroyed dozens of tomato farms across multiple districts in recent weeks. This action, carried out under orders from the Taliban-controlled Directorate of Agriculture in Logar, has sparked outrage among farmers who had invested heavily in greenhouse operations for tomato cultivation. Farmers in the region had incurred significant costs in purchasing equipment and securing essential resources for these agricultural ventures. Despite previous Taliban-imposed restrictions, which claimed that tomato farms were water-intensive and economically unsustainable, many farmers resumed cultivation this year due to strong market demand.
Last year, the Taliban had explicitly ordered farmers to halt tomato production, yet many defied this directive, recognizing the economic viability of the crop. In retaliation, Taliban forces raided and demolished their fields, inflicting substantial financial losses on already struggling agricultural communities. The destruction of these farms has fueled concerns among farmers who now face increased economic uncertainty in an already dire financial landscape. With agriculture serving as a critical source of livelihood for many, the Taliban’s actions have further exacerbated economic hardships, pushing local farmers into deeper distress.
While the Taliban have yet to issue an official statement clarifying their rationale for this move, the widespread destruction of agricultural lands aligns with their broader pattern of restrictive policies, which continue to place immense pressure on Afghanistani farmers and threaten food security and economic stability in the region.