A three-day exhibition of locally produced goods was held in Daikundi from July 26 to July 28, with 130 stalls, including 90 belonging to women and 40 belonging to men, from all eight districts and the provincial center participating. The exhibition was organized by the Department of Industry and Commerce with financial support from the Aga Khan Foundation. According to officials, its purpose was to showcase local products, create marketing opportunities, and support producers, particularly women.
The presence of women producers was the most notable feature of the exhibition. By displaying food products, agricultural crops, and handicrafts, they strive to introduce local products from Daikundi beyond the province’s limited markets and gain access to larger markets.
Farzana Farahmand, one of the participants, who has been producing tomato paste, pickles, chutneys, pickled cucumbers, and natural honey for nearly a year, says that despite challenges such as a shortage of capital and a restricted market, participating in the exhibition has helped introduce her products to more people and attract new customers.
“This exhibition is not just a place to sell our products; it is also a good opportunity to introduce them. Many people saw and bought our products for the first time. As a result, we gained new customers and became more motivated to expand our production and sell our products in new markets,” she adds.
Zainab Mosawi, another producer, also says the exhibition has provided an opportunity to introduce her products, attract new customers, and expand her market. Referring to the shortage of capital, she expressed hope that with continued support, she would eventually be able to sell her products outside the country.
“Participating in the exhibition helps my store become better known among people. It also allows me to find suitable markets for the products I have collected and for the saffron that I cultivate and produce,” she says.
The organizers describe the exhibition as a step toward showcasing Daikundi’s economic potential.
Karim Salehi, Director of Industry and Commerce in Daikundi, says the event was held not only to sell products but also to showcase the province’s production capacity, create marketing opportunities, and provide opportunities for producers, especially women, to expand their businesses.
“The purpose of this exhibition is to create marketing opportunities by showcasing the province’s products, production capacity, and resources, and introducing them to other provinces and even other countries,” he says.
Visitors also consider such exhibitions as a way to support domestic products. They say that selling products directly to consumers not only increases public confidence but also helps people become more familiar with the quality of local products.
Wajiha Haidari, one of the visitors, says she attended the exhibition because she wanted to see the skills and hard work of women producers in Daikundi and was satisfied with the quality of their products.
“What brought me to this exhibition was my interest in seeing the skills and hard work of Daikundi’s women. To support domestic products, I bought tomato paste, pickles, and qorot. If exhibitions like this are held regularly, people will have greater confidence in domestically produced goods, and women producers will gain more customers, helping to increase their families’ incomes,” she says.
Economic experts also believe that continuing such exhibitions could contribute to the growth of the local economy. However, they emphasize that realizing this goal requires addressing the obstacles facing producers, particularly women.
Abdul Raouf Mohammadi, an economic expert, says exhibitions provide appropriate opportunities for producers to introduce their products directly to consumers, increase sales, and strengthen small businesses. He considers the shortage of capital, limited market access, insufficient technical and vocational training, and limited production facilities as the main challenges facing women producers.
“Economic exhibitions are among the most effective ways to promote local economic growth. They allow producers to introduce and sell their products directly to consumers. This helps increase sales, attract new customers, and showcase producers’ capabilities,” he says.
As the three-day exhibition of locally produced goods in Daikundi ended, officials, producers, visitors, and economic experts all emphasized the importance of continuing such programs. They believe that practical support for producers, especially women, can help local products reach wider markets, strengthen the local economy, and create sustainable employment opportunities across the province.
Reporter: Shafiqa Mohammadi
