22 foreign organizations active in Herat agriculture sector

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Amid the ongoing dry spell, the Agriculture Department of western Herat province is making efforts to attract the help of foreign organizations to strengthen the agriculture and livestock sector.

Ghulam Sarwar Azimi, a farmer in Shindand district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that this year was relatively appropriate for agriculture.

However, he said fertilizers were so expensive that he and other farmers could not afford to buy them.

Rahmdil, another farmer in Injil district who owns a fruit orchard and vegetable farm, told Pajhwok that the agriculture department helped him and many other farmers in Injil district for the first time and provided them with improved quality seed.

Ahmad Irfan, director of statistics at the agriculture department, said their department was currently operating in 19 districts of Herat and working to provide a better environment for farmers’ produce.

Irfan said that currently there were 22 foreign organizations working in the agricultural sector of the province and compared to the past, the activities of such institutions had increased.

He added that in addition to providing various assistances to farmers, these organizations train farmers on how to cultivate and harvest fruits and work in coordination with the Department of Agriculture in all districts.

Meanwhile, Maulvi Pir Mohammad Halimi, director of agriculture, told Pajhwok that other partner organizations were cooperating with the department.

According to Halimi, the partner organizations, in view of the urgent needs of the farmer community, carry out their programs in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Development Councils in villages, and their scope of work has expanded compared to previous years.

He added this year the fruit yield increased by 60 percent compared to last year.

sa/ma