Uzbekistan ready to help develop Qush Tepa canal

KABUL (Pajhwok): Uzbekistan is ready to cooperate on the development of the Qush Tepa canal project and research on the characteristics of Afghanistan’s soil, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MoAIL) said on Monday.

A delegation from Uzbekistan, led by First Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Kholmurodov Nozimjon Qosimovich, is currently in Kabul.

The ream held talks with several officials of the Islamic Emirate on improved relations between the two countries, the ministry said.

Acting Minister of Agriculture Maulvi Attaullah Omari, at a meeting with the delegation, discussed the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

Omari stressed the need for sharing of experiences in the agriculture sector to enhance productivity. He briefed the team on MoAIL programs.

He urged the neighboring country to cooperate with the people of Afghanistan in the agriculture area, particularly in providing refined seeds.

Ismatullah Ergashev, special representative of Uzbekistan who is part of the team, signaled his country’s willingness to collaborate with in the agricultural sector.

Kholmurodov Nozimjon also spoke about his country’s cooperation in irrigation, energy, research and production.

He said Uzbekistan was keen on cooperating with Afghanistan on the development of the mega Qosh Tepa canal project and research about the soil characteristics of Afghanistan.

The canal, 280 kilometres long and 100 metres wide, is designed to irrigate 500,000 hectares of land in Balkh, Jawzjan and Faryab provinces.

Currently, around 4,000 machines and more than 7,000 people are working on the huge project, whose first phase has been 72 percent completed.

kk/sa