Grapevines Ivy Weeds

 Written by: Muzamil Shah Watandoost

Grape has a special place in Afghanistan among other agricultural products and it’s an economic source.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Afghanistan have about 90 varieties of grapes. However, with the advent of fresh fruits, diseases and pests of trees and fruits have also developed, leading to the reduction and destruction of fruit production. One of these diseases is grapevines ivy weeds which weaken the plants and destroy the grapevines.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some vineyards owners in Qarabagh district, Kabul province about this weed.

A gardener, Matiullah says, “I have about 3000 grapevines in my garden in each grapevine grows in about 6 years but about 300 of them are withering early due to ivy weeds. We pull out all the withered grapevines for firewood.”

Another gardener, Rahimullah says, “I have about 800 grapevines in my land. Last year ivy weeds withered about 20 grapevines and I faced about 30000 Afghanis loss.”

What do some gardeners think about grapevines ivy weeds?

A vineyard owner, Abdul Karim says, “I have about 230 grapevines in my vineyard. Last year one of the grapevines had ivy weeds and I removed them from the grapevine but I don’t know about the cause of finding this weed on grapevines.”

Matiullah says, “I am sure that ivy weed doesn’t have seed or root and according to the elders, this plant grows due to poor soil conditions.”

How do some gardeners prevent ivy weeds?

Rahimullah says, “Ivy can be prevented by hand. You have to pick them up and burn them away from the garden.”

Matiullah says, “We can remove ivy weeds by hand or with scissors.”