Turning minefields into vineyards celebrated in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): Representatives from the US and Afghan governments as well as the international community commemorated Landmine Awareness Day in Kabul on Thursday.

To mark the day, Deputy Minister for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs Mohammed Qaseem Haidari and Heidi Kuhn, the CEO of Roots of Peace, planted a tree to symbolize the turning of mined agricultural land into land now producing high value crops.

USAID and turning these lands back into the agricultural lands that will help create a peaceful and profitable future for Afghanistan.

For the past 17 years, USAID has been revitalizing agriculture in Afghanistan. In 2002, prime agricultural land was heavily mined.

After years of planting fruit and nut trees, grape vines and other produce that is highly valued in regional markets such as India, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Afghan produce has returned to the world market, earning exporters over $800 million in 2018.

Exports of fruits, nuts and spices are on target to bring $1 billion to Afghanistan by the end of 2019, providing an opportunity to spread the benefits of peace to more communities impacted by strife.

With USAID support, Roots of Peace planted over five million fruit trees in all 34 provinces in Afghanistan, impacting over 1 million farmers and families and re-establishing the livelihoods of farmers and helping them to earn higher incomes.

These crops also get higher prices in the world market, thereby providing greater income for exporters, processors and producers.

The event was attended by Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, the Assistant Chief of Mission from the US Embassy, USAID Deputy Mission Director, the Director of Afghan Mine Action Coordination, and the CEO/Founder of Roots of Peace.

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