Afghan, Iranian officials discuss expanding bilateral agriculture cooperation

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan and Iranian officials have discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in agriculture, modern irrigation and livestock sectors.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Mawlawi Sadr Azam Usmani met with Iran’s Deputy Minister of Water and Soil is Safdar Niazi Shahraki, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MoAIL) said.

A statement from the ministry said the two sides discussed technical exchanges in water management, efficient use of resources and modern irrigation technologies such as drip and sprinkler systems.

Usmani assured that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) would facilitate Iranian private sector investment in agriculture, irrigation, livestock and cross-border cultivation.

For his part, the Iranian deputy minister highlighted Iran’s readiness to share expertise, participate in Afghan agricultural exhibitions, facilitate product transit and expand trade ties.

The officials also discussed improving marketing opportunities for Afghan agricultural and livestock products in Iran.

Iranian companies engaged in designing and producing modern irrigation systems were invited to invest in Afghanistan.

Afghan private sector representatives also raised issues regarding Iran’s table egg import monopoly and Afghanistan’s need for hatching eggs and one-day-old chicks.

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