HERAT (SW) – The Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock on Wednesday laid foundation stone for the country’s maiden saffron institute in Herat which would be completed with the cost of AFN 60 million.
Naseer Ahmad Durrani, minister for MAIL, said on the occasion this institute would help conduct research and promote saffron besides creating new markets. The institute would be completed in next two years through the MAIL development fund. The minister promised all necessary equipment would be procured once the compound for the institute is built.
Durrani said Turkey requires up to 300 kg of saffron on annual basis, and has pledged to import it from Herat only. He added Turkish investors have also expressed interest in setting up process and packaging facilities for saffron and exporting it with the Afghan brand.
In the meantime, interim governor for Herat, Muhaiuddin Noori, said Turkey has lowered import tariff on Afghan saffron from 30 per cent to zero.
The MAIL minister also inaugurated a number of other development projects worth AFN 600 million in Herat.
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