Turkey provides processing equipment to Herat saffron farmers

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in cooperation with the Afghanistan National Saffron Union has distributed saffron harvesting and processing equipment and machines to hundreds of farmers in western Herat province.

Officials said the assistance was provided to farmers in Pashtoon Zarghoon, Oba, Shindand, Guzra, Injil, Karukh, and Ghorian districts.

TIKA’s office head Dr. Arafat Deniz, explained this aid included 20 saffron drying machines, two packaging machines, two shrink-pack machines, 10 tables for saffron packaging, 10 storage tanks for saffron storage, 30 chairs, 3,000 small baskets, and 1,500 large baskets for transporting saffron flowers.

This aid was distributed to 1,000 saffron farmers based on the needs of ANSU, he added.

Previously, TIKA has provided farmers in seven districts with advanced equipment and tools to better process and classify saffron, including 22 drying machines and over 4,000 saffron collection baskets.

ANSU’s officials explained that equipping farmers with advanced tools and machinery would directly impact the quality and economic value of saffron.

According to head of ANSU Haji Mohammad Ibrahim Adil, more than 40,000 farmers are engaged in saffron cultivation and most of them plant its flowers in the traditional way.

On the other hand, farmers are happy with the assistance and asked TIKA and ANSU to provide them with training programs on modern cultivation and how to deal with plant pests in future.

Herat province produces high-quality saffron and has a special place in the domestic and international markets. This year the yield of red gold or Herat saffron exceeded 40 tons.

hz/ma