Aqrab 26: Nov 17, 2019
The fifth National Saffron Flower Festival and exhibition of saffron-made food were held in Herat in presence of hundreds of saffron workers, representatives of private sector, and companies active in saffron production, saffron union members, and representatives of other countries.

Nasir Ahmad Durrani, minister of agriculture, irrigation and livestock (MAIL), in the ceremony said, “It was predicted that, in line with the saffron development strategy, we would produce 14 tons of saffron by 1400 (2021) but we reached the target only in two years.”

Mr. Durrani also suggested saffron workers and saffron activists to add National Saffron Day in the calendar just like Pine Nuts Day.

Mr. Durrani said our aim is to give credit to Afghan saffron so that people use it.

Mr. Durrani added that the total saffron production has reached to 17 tons in Herat this year, and 18 tons across the country.

“Qualitatively, we are the first in the world, and from quantity perspective, we are the third largest saffron producer in the world. Our plan is to be the second largest producer of saffron in the world,” Durrani said.

Afghan saffron is now featured in foreign exhibitions and the UAE, China, India, Saudi Arabia and European countries are fond of Afghan saffron.

The agriculture minister said that the imports of saffron and its bulb were prevented into the country at the request of saffron sector and urged the sector to prevent smuggling of saffron to Afghanistan.

Nasir Ahmad Durrani said Herat has enormous economic capacity in the agricultural sector and that is why most of the budget is allocated to the province.

Meanwhile Abdul Sabor Rahmani, provincial agriculture director, also addressed the ceremony and said that 7,000 hectares of land is cultivated saffron in the province, adding that 45 companies and unions are working in saffron sector in the province.

Mr. Rahmani also added that 100 saffron processing and packaging centers have been equipped this year.

Regular distribution of saffron bulbs, launching exhibitions, building the National Institute of Saffron, providing export certificates and distributing the required equipment to saffron farmers are among the tasks the Ministry of Agriculture has done to improve the quality and increase production of saffron in Herat.

Mohammad Dawood Hashimi, acting and deputy Herat governor said, “Herat is not only the economic and industrial hub, but also the agricultural hub.”

Mr. Hashimi considered the functions and efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture effective in the production, marketing and export of saffron and thanked the Ministry's leadership.

Sayed Azim Kabarzane, Herat MP, said, “In the saffron sector, we have made good progress, both quantitatively and qualitatively; the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture are commendable.”

Bashir Ahmad Rashidi, head of saffron workers union, also thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for its cooperation in increasing production, packaging and marketing processes. He also thanked President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani for his efforts of marketing for Afghan saffron.

Mr. Rashidi suggested that more attention should be paid on marketing and smuggling of saffron to Afghanistan must be prevented.