KABUL, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cotton production in Afghanistan has increased by 21 percent this harvest season compared to the previous one, the country's Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock said Thursday.

"The latest statistics of Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock from 17 of 34 provinces showed that cotton or so-called 'white gold' production increased 21 percent, reaching 73,119 metric tons this year," the ministry said in a statement.

The increase was due to timely rain fall and increased investment in the crop and strengthened regulation of agricultural inputs in the mountainous country, the statement added.

"The main reasons for the increase of cotton in Afghanistan are timely rainfall, better weather, increase of cultivation areas, and the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock such as providing training for farmers, distribution of quality cotton seeds, and creation of 206 demonstrative cotton farms for farmers in 14 provinces," the statement said.

About 49,317 hectares of land were used to cultivate cotton in 2019, while the number was 39,496 hectares in 2018, according to the statement.

The overall agricultural production, the backbone of the national economy, dramatically declined over the past couple of years due to drought as well as persistent fighting and instability in rural areas.

The Afghan government has taken measures to invest in agricultural sector to further create job opportunities for people and to boost economy in the land-locked central Asian state.