The vision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is to improve food security, prevent hanger and work for balanced economic development in the country.
Officials of the ministry in accountability program to the nation said the MAIL was responsible for working towards prevention of poverty, improving legal agriculture, increasing agricultural products, improving infrastructures and supporting the private sector in the country.
Speaking to participants in the program, deputy minister of agriculture, irrigation and livestock Mawlavi Sadrazam said that based on a decree of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, more than 66,718 tons of reserved wheat have been distributed to people for work in 34 provinces in accordance to each province’s population.
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock has been planning to implement programs for creating orchards, reviving pistachio forests, improvement of agricultural situation, addressing lack of water in some parts of the country, distribution of seeds and training of farmers,” Mawlavi Sadrazam said, adding that the ministry has had unprecedented achievements in this regard in the past one year.
According to the MAIL information, nearly 61 tons rice seeds have been distributed to farmers in Herat, Urozgan, Daikundi, Sar-e-Pul, Bamyan, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Khost and Paktia provinces in the past one year.
Besides, nearly 8,000 tons wheat seeds and fertilizers have been distributed to nearly 36,000 farmers in Logar, Kandahar, Balkh, Kunduz, Baghlan, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock further said that 450 chicken farms have been created to strengthen people’s livelihood, adding that 215 hectare orchards have been created with close cooperation of non-government organizations in Kunar, Badghis and Paktia provinces.
Holding agricultural exhibitions during the spring season in Kabul to encourage private entrepreneurs and develop agricultural sector in the country, distribution of 2,500 tons wheat to earthquake-hit and recent flood-affected families in Khost and Paktika provinces and providing loans for farmers are other programs that have been implemented in the past one year, according to the respective.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock has made efforts to revive pistachio forests and do more for the protection of the pistachio’s jungles in 11 districts of the country. It is determined that nearly 3,000 tons pistachio will be produced in the country particularly in Badghis, Herat and Samangan provinces.
According to MAIL Deputy Minister, the ministry has created a committee to prevent from usurpation of lands in 34 provinces of the country.
The ministry is determined to construct small water dams for irrigation of agricultural fields and controlling of the country’s water, construct cold stores for storing agricultural products, promote modern ways to improve the agriculture and livestock sector and implement big programs in the country.
According to officials of the respective ministry, the ministry of agriculture, irrigation and livestock needs continued support of the IEA and close cooperation of relevant non-government organizations so that the ministry can bring positive changes in life of farmers and people in the country.
Kohistani and Qarizada
