Acting and nominated Minister of Agriculture: With the distribution of improved seeds, Wheat Yield increases by 20 to 30%

Aqrab: 18 November 8, 2020
The process of distributing 359 Metrics Tons of improved Wheat seeds to farmers in Kabul province for autumn cultivation was officially started today by Dr. Anwarul Haq Ahady, acting Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, and Mohammad Yaqoub Heydari, Governor of Kabul.
At the beginning of the distribution of these seeds to the farmers of Kabul, Mr. Ahady, said that this year 14,000 Metrics Tons of improved Wheat seeds will be distributed to the farmers all over the country.
He said "the distribution of the seeds would increase Wheat yields by 20 to 30 percent.
The Acting Minister and Minister for Agriculture added "that by distributing these seeds, 280,000 farmers across the country will benefit directly and another 140,000 farmers will benefit indirectly.  "By distributing these seeds, 56,000 Hectares of Wheat land will be planted, resulting in a 20 to 30 percent increase in yields," said Dr. Anwar al-Haq Ahady.
The Acting Minister for Agriculture also added "that 14,000 Metrics Tons of improved Wheat seeds were purchased from the Seed Producers Union at a cost of 689 Million Afghanis and transported to the provinces for distribution.
According to him, 621 Million Afghanis includes the purchase of Eggs and the rest includes transportation costs.
He stressed "that these seeds are provided to farmers as a subsidy.  Forty percent of the cost is paid by the farmers and the other sixty percent by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Acting Minister and Minister for Agriculture said that the improved wheat seeds "will be produced with the help of the World Bank and distributed through the Agriculture Growth and Food Security Project.
Anwarul Haq Ahady also added "that the distribution of improved wheat seeds and Afghanistan's self-sufficiency in grain production is one of the important goals of the government and the Ministry of Agriculture.
He said "5.1 Million Metric Tons of Wheat had been produced across the country this year, and that Afghanistan's annual wheat demand reached 6.4 million metrics.
Mr. Ahady said "the distribution of improved seeds and increased Wheat production are among his important plans.
Meanwhile, Governor Mohammad Yaqoub Heydari says "that as a result of the cooperation and support of the Ministry of Agriculture, many changes have taken place in the lives of Kabul farmers.
He asked the Peasants to grind or not sell the improved wheat seeds.
Mr Heydari said "planting the seeds would help increase wheat yields.  "I own the land and cultivate it myself, I understand the difference," said Mohammad Yaqoub Heydari, emphasizing that the use of improved seeds helps increase yields.
Mirajan, a farmer in Kabul's 14th district, also expressed satisfaction with the Ministry of Agriculture on behalf of all the farmers for the timely distribution of the improved seeds, but said "that Agriculture is a country's infrastructure.
He also called on the Ministry of Agriculture to build and rehabilitate the Shahtoot Dam and distribute agricultural medicines to farmers.
Khairullah, a farmer in Chahar Asyab district, also praised the Ministry of Agriculture for distributing the improved wheat seeds on time, saying that they had previously bought wheat seeds from the market but were not satisfied.  With the improved seeds.
He said, their yields are expected to increase significantly next year.
"These seeds are very good, they are clean and improved, but the seeds we used to use had all kinds of Wheat, but the improved seeds work well," said Eidi Mohammad, another farmer in the Qala-e-Fatuh area.
However, the acting Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock says that the process of distributing the improved eggs to farmers across the country has been underway for several days in Bamyan, Badakhshan, Herat, Logar, Sar-e-Pul, Panjshir, Kapisa, Parwan and Kabul provinces.