KABUL (SW) – The 29th autumn exhibition of agricultural products with the slogan “Marketing agricultural products, a step towards Afghanistan’s self-sufficiency” has been launched in Badam Bagh, Kabul and will continue for four days.
Attaullah Omari, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, states that the purpose of holding these exhibitions is to strengthen the economic base, develop the agricultural sector and support domestic products and farmers, and says that ensuring the security of the country’s food needs is one of the priorities of this ministry. He adds: “This exhibition aims to encourage farmers, and we are trying to be independent in the field of agriculture in the field of foodstuffs, and we went to Qosh Tapa a few days ago, and this will lead to self-sufficiency of foodstuffs in the country.”
Abdulsalam Hanafi, the administrative deputy at the Administrative Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, said at the opening ceremony of this exhibition that 80% of the country’s workforce is employed in agriculture and 60% of families’ income is provided through agriculture. He adds that in recent years, the contribution of agriculture to domestic income has been 21 to 33 percent.
He emphasized: “In recent years, agriculture has a share of 21 to 33 percent in domestic income, and if managed and given proper attention, this sector can create 1.2 million jobs in the country in a decade, and in a decade, if agriculture grows five percent annually in Afghanistan, it can curb poverty in the villages of Afghanistan and provide the necessary food for the country.”
Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the economic affairs deputy of the Administrative Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, says that farmers do not get much profit due to the use of the traditional irrigation system. He adds: “Due to the use of the old irrigation and agriculture system in the country, farmers do not get their crops from their fields and gardens, and the Islamic Emirate is trying to standardize it.”
On the other hand, a number of participants of this exhibition consider such exhibitions to be effective for selling domestic products and ask people to use domestic products.
Kalimullah Siraj, one of the participants of this exhibition, says: “We ask people to use the products of the country, and most of the products that are here are from Afghanistan and we are working to improve their quality, but try to use the products of your own country.”
Yalda Hosseini, another participant of this exhibition, said: “The exhibitions that are held are very useful for us and more people come and buy these products and handicrafts.”
Mohammad Hassan Hashemi, one of the visitors of this exhibition, also wants citizens to participate in this exhibition. “We came here to see the production. All kinds of national products from different provinces have come here, which is effective for farmers and producers.”
The agricultural products of this four-day exhibition are displayed in 263 booths, and 56 booths are dedicated to women’s handicrafts.
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