Local sources from the Lal wa Sarjangal district of Ghor province say that the caretaker government forces have prohibited the sale of agricultural products, including wheat, lentils, and chickpeas, to residents of other districts and provinces.
At least three sources from Lal wa Sarjangal reported to the Goharshad media today (Saturday, November 5) that local officials of the current government have informed farmers and shopkeepers in this district that they are not allowed to sell their agricultural products to residents of other districts and provinces, and that all their products must be sold within Lal wa Sarjangal.
One source stated that the caretaker government forces came to the market in Lal and warned the people that anyone who disobeys this order would be arrested and punished.
Another source mentioned that government forces arrested a resident of Lal wa Sarjangal for selling wheat to a resident of the Sang Takht and Bandar Daikundi district due to this prohibition.
He added that the government forces also turned back a vehicle carrying sold wheat from the road, and the person who was arrested was released after a few hours through the mediation of local elders from Lal wa Sarjangal.
The source emphasized that this order from the current government has created many problems for the people of this district.
It remains unclear whether this order was issued by officials of the caretaker government in Kabul or if local officials made such a decision “arbitrarily.”
The source added, “Last year, local officials also imposed restrictions on the sale of certain agricultural items by the people of Lal wa Sarjangal.”
The source stressed that if these restrictions are not resolved, farmers in this district will face numerous challenges.
Additionally, one source stated: “The livelihoods of the people in this district depend on income from selling agricultural products, and if they cannot sell these products, they will face many difficulties. People use the income from their agricultural sales to purchase other necessary goods.”
The source noted that in addition to “ushr” (a form of tax), current government forces collect 10,000 Afghanis from vehicles transporting agricultural products in this district.
Residents of Lal wa Sarjangal are calling for the caretaker government’s attention to the situation of the residents of this district and for their complaints to be addressed.
Local officials of the current government in Ghor have not yet commented on this matter.
It is worth mentioning that residents of the Hazara-inhabited Lal wa Sarjangal district have previously complained about discriminatory treatment from the current government.
