Agriculture ministry awarded $37m contracts

KABUL have signed three contracts for agricultural projects worth $37 million (1.8 afghanis), to be executed this year.

The contracts were awarded to the Ministry of Agriculture at an exhibition in Kabul. Several products, such as vegetables, flowers, seeds, fruits and handicrafts were displayed.

In a bid to promoted the agricultural sector, the contracts were signed between the ministries, agriculture ministry spokesman Majeed Qarar told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Under the agreements, $17 million will be spent on development schemes, $14 million on distribution of improved seeds and $6 million on the construction of small water dams, Qarar said.

Speaking to journalists after the signing ceremony, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Asif Rahimi said his ministry would give 30 million afs in loans to farmers in southern Helmand and eastern Laghman provinces.

He said the current Afghan year would be vital to implementation of big agricultural projects in the country. “We will focus on food security, irrigation, agricultural economy and environment protection.”

frm/mud