Vegetable and milk collecting centers inaugurated in Laghman

MEHTARLAM (SW): Salamat Azimi, Minister for Counter Narcotics, on Saturday inaugurated four public welfare projects aimed at discouraging poppy cultivation and promoting agriculture and dairy farming in Laghman province.

The projects include dairy milk collecting facility in the provincial capital Mehtarlam, two vegetable and one milk collecting centers in the Alishing district of the province.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said these projects are aimed at encouraging farmers towards legitimate agriculture and farming instead of turning towards the poppy cultivation. The projects would be executed from the development budgets of the ministry, and it would cost up to AFN 5.9 million in three months’ time.

It is hoped these projects would create jobs for thousands of people in the province.

The minister lamented that the funds provided by the international community for counter narcotics efforts are not enough.

Hailing the inauguration of the new projects, Abdul Jabbar Naeemi, governor of Laghman, said on the occasion that only four projects are not sufficient. He expressed optimism that the new projects would boost and streamline agriculture products in the province.

ENDS