Abundant Afghan Harvest Wilts Amid Violence and Extortionbr Each checkpoint extorts two to three melons, he said, adding, "The extortion is not only fruit — they ask for money, too." Abdul Wahab, who grows melons in restive Baghlan Province to sell in Kabul, said he had spent 86,000 afghanis, or about $1,300, on farm expenses like seeds, fertilizerbr and labor, only to sell the melon crop for a total of $220.br Mohammed Hafiz said that I bought two melons — 30 afghanis each,br Maidan had that Tak, tak, tak — the shooting starts, and we have to take cover,br Bashir said that When we woke up in the morning, the farmer had disappeared — and the truck driver was left with the fruit,br "And when you say, ‘Why, for God’s sake, be a little fair,’ they say, ‘Don’t move your lips, I will smash your mouth.’" He sighed, "It’s a football match,br and we are kicked back and forth." In recent years, the violence in Afghanistan has dipped and peaked along with the spring and fall harvests — the prosperity of one and the desperation of the other each dangerous in its own way.