Information meeting of project officials to the Minister of Agriculture: Activities of HVCDSP project in 1399 and its plans for 1400

The officials of Horticulture Value Chain development Project, (HVCDSP) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock MAIL) reported the activities of this project in the fiscal year 1399 to Dr. Anwarul Haq Ahadi, minister of agriculture, irrigation and livestock, and presented his plans for 1400 in detail.
Ahmad Farid Reid, director of horticulture value chain project, presented reports on the project activities and plans, saying that HVCDSP is a six-year project in the areas of new orchard construction, fruit and vegetable growing, active in Ghazni, Maidan Wardak, Bamyan, Paktia, Paktika, Khost Logar, Kunar, Laghman and Nangarhar.
Mr. Raid added that the project had a budget of 710 million AFN in 1399 solar year, of which 92% could be spent.
Horticultural value chain development  project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has built 180 raisins, 388 potato and 335 onion storages this solar year, as well as distributed 188 solar dryers for fresh vegetables and fruits in the provinces which are covered by above-mentioned project.
Ahmad Farid Ride said, “The horticultural value chain development project in 1400 will concentrate on construction of dense orchards of date palms, sturgeon, as well as the preparation of pruning materials, seedlings as well as the construction of water reservoirs and the installation of drip irrigation systems, the construction of private greenhouses and agriculture. The project has a budget of 764 million AFN for the 1400 solar year.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Anwar al-Haq Ahadi, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, told the meeting that the horticulture value development chain project should be based more on economic efficiency and increase its focus on horticulture. Mr. Ahadi also stressed that the HVCDSP should be extended to other provinces in agreement with the donor.
Ahady added at the meeting that the horticultural value chain project should use the highest quality seedling varieties based on climatic conditions and market demands in order to advance its activities in the horticultural sector. He also stressed the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implementing the projects.