First Summer Agricultural Exhibition Inaugurated in Kabul’s Badam Bagh

Asad 15: August 6, 2019

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) inaugurated the first Summer Agricultural Products’ Exhibition today as the country’s 100th anniversary of independence is also approaching.

The exhibition is held at Kabul’s Badam Bagh Research Farm; farmers and producers have showcased their agricultural and animal products for three days.

Hashmatullah Ghafoori, deputy minister for irrigation and natural resources at MAIL, during the inauguration ceremony said political independence would not be achieved without economic independence. Mr. Ghafoori added that agriculture is the most important sector in any country which helps the countries to achieve political independence.

Ghafoori said, “Economic independence throughout the world is the foundation and reinforcer of political independence. One hundred years ago King Amanullah Khan, who led Afghanistan to independence from the United Kingdom in 1919, made the country’s foreign policy independent. Later on, he paid special attention to learning and education.”

Ghafoori further stated that the Ministry of Agriculture has made great efforts to strengthen the Afghan economy and achieve economic independence. He said the standardization of agricultural and animal products as well as export of these products are key steps taken by the ministry.

Meanwhile Korean Ambassador to Afghanistan Rhee Zha Hyoung, who has visited the exhibitions many times, said, “We will continue our support to the agriculture sector of Afghanistan.”

The ambassador also said that the quality of Afghan products is really good but the packaging and processing of the products needs to be upgraded in order to be popular in markets abroad.

Habibullah Habibi, director of private sector at MAIL, also said that in the exhibition agricultural and animal products were showcased from all the provinces in 230 pavilions. He added that 169 pavilions were dedicated for agricultural and animal products while 61 other booths were dedicated for women’s handicrafts.

Haji Abdul Wodod, a farmer from Paktia province, thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for the efforts to increase farmers’ products as well as to help them improve their economic conditions.