For the first time, water has been released from the Pashdan Dam in Herat to irrigate farmers’ agricultural lands.
Officials say that due to increased recent rainfall in Herat province, the water level in the Pashdan Dam has risen, making it possible to release water to farmlands.
According to them, the dam’s water will be distributed fairly through 80 kilometers of canals and waterways. In the first phase, it will flow to villages in Karukh district, and later it will reach the districts of Injil and Pashtun Zarghun, as well as irrigation channels in the northern parts of Herat city.
The deputy head of the Pashdan Dam project, Abdul Ilah Qazizada, said:
“This dam has now reached its true operational stage, and people are benefiting from it. One major advantage is that with the release of water, more than 50,000 people will be employed, more land will be cultivated, agricultural production will increase, and our level of food self-sufficiency will improve.”
Meanwhile, some farmers in Herat say they had faced serious problems in previous years due to water shortages, and some of their lands had even remained uncultivated. However, this year, with recent rainfall and the release of water from the dam, their yields are expected to increase several times.
Abdul Ghani, a resident of Pashdan village in Karukh district, said:
“Our lands are very fertile, and we also have good orchards and trees. We can grow everything, including wheat, barley, and corn. From now on, we will plant whatever people need.”
Farmer Ahmad Shah added:
“Right now is the season for planting wheat, barley, and some other crops in Herat. The water from the Pashdan Dam can help farmers grow these crops successfully.”
Farmer Mohammad Osman said:
“Our people grow crops like wheat, barley, saffron, orchards, and trees. Now that there is water in the dam, we intend to plant spring crops as well, including melons, tomatoes, and vegetables.”
At the same time, local authorities in Herat emphasize that water from the dam will continue to be released until farmers’ irrigation needs are fully met.
The spokesperson for the Herat governor, Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi, stated:
“For the first time, water from the Pashdan Dam has been released for irrigation and agriculture. The local administration of Herat is committed to providing necessary services to all farmers in the province. We are also working to ensure that the released water is distributed fairly to all farmers and farmlands.”
The Pashdan Dam is located 25 kilometers northeast of Herat city in Karukh district. It has the capacity to store 54 million cubic meters of water and irrigate 13,000 hectares of agricultural land.
