KABUL (SW) – The construction of the second phase of Qosh Tapa canal in Balkh started on Thursday.
Officials of the Islamic Emirate at the opening ceremony of the construction of this canal in the port town of Hayratan in Balkh, said that with the completion of the construction of the second phase of the canal, Afghanistan will become self-sufficient in terms of agricultural production.
Officials in the National Development Authority, who are responsible for the implementation of this project, said that the second part of the canal is 175 km long, starting from Daulat Abad district of Balkh and continuing to Andkhoi district of Faryab. They added that the construction of the second phase of the canal in Balkh will be completed in about five years and about three million acres of land will be irrigated on the banks of this canal.
Farid Azimi, an engineer in this department, said that the construction cost of the second phase of this canal will be paid by the government.
“The cost of the first and second phase of the Qosh Tapa canal is paid by the government of the Islamic Emirate. The work of the first phase has been completed and the second phase has officially started today,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the economic deputy of the Prime Minister’s Office, said at the opening ceremony of the construction of the canal, that with the completion of the construction of this canal, Afghanistan’s agricultural sector will be mechanized and the country will become self-sufficient in terms of agricultural production. The economic deputy of the Prime Minister’s Office said: “While Afghanistan is an agricultural country, no fundamental effort has been made to mechanize its agriculture, and it relies on regional countries for food imports. The Islamic Emirate is trying to pay serious attention to the management of agriculture and water in the country.”
Attaullah Omari, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, also said in this ceremony that Afghanistan will become the center of food production in the region with the use of Qosh Tapa canal. He added: “This big water channel will make Afghanistan independent in the field of foodstuffs, and besides, it can turn the country into a center of food production in the region.”
In addition, Abdulsalam Hanafi, the administrative deputy of the Prime Minister’s Department, at the opening ceremony of the construction of the second section of the Qosh Tapa canal, said that the work flow of this canal, with a length of 285 kilometers and a width of 152 meters, starts from Kaldar district of Balkh and passes through this province and Jawzjan and reaches Faryab.
On the other hand, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, political deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged to the countries of the region to solve their concerns about the use of Amu River water through diplomatic means. He said: “Instead of worrying, the neighboring countries should come and express their concerns with us diplomatically. Our team is ready to talk.”
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