4-day exhibition of domestic products beings in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): A four-day exhibition showcasing agricultural and domestic products titled ‘Standard agriculture guarantees the country’s economy’ commenced in Kabul’s Badam Bagh area on Wednesday.

Agricultural, horticultural, diary products, processed products, handicrafts, agricultural machinery, saffron, medicinal herbs and plants, irrigation equipment, flowering and non-flowering plants, solar power tools and domestic products have been put on display at the show.

The exhibition’s opening ceremony was attended by besides farmers, horticulturists and industrialists, deputy prime ministers Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, Acting Minister of Agriculture Maulvi Attaullah Omari, Acting Minister of Finance Hidayatullah Badri and the head of the Chamber of Commerce Yunus Momand.

Maulvi Omari on the occasion said the exhibition contained 263 booths with 56 stalls dedicated to women's handicrafts.

He said the exhibition was aimed at boosting Afghanistan's agricultural sector, supporting domestic products, promoting the culture of using locally manufactured goods, developing the livestock sector and encouraging farmers, horticulturists and industrialists.

The exhibition would have considerable achievements in signing contracts, marketing and encouraging and attracting investors, he hoped.

The agriculture minister said his ministry was committed to providing marketing and sales opportunities to farmers and cattle ranchers at all stages from production to consumption.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said 80 percent of Afghanistan’s population was associated with agriculture, which he called the backbone of the country's economy. He said the sector would be paid special attention by the government.

He asked the Ministry of Agriculture to provide necessary facilities to farmers. Mullah Baradar said the caretaker government had done nothing during the past one year that could satisfy the nation and a lot of work should be done. He asked overseas Afghan businessmen to come to the country and invest here.

For his part, Hanafi said the government planned to establish cold storage facilities in major cities of the country and to find domestic and foreign market for agricultural products.

He said the Islamic Emirate had banned cultivation of narcotics in the country and now it was the world’s moral responsibility to assist Afghanistan farmers.

Participants of the exhibition also urged the government to find domestic and foreign markets for their product.

Industrialist Ayesha Siddiqi told Pajhwok Afghan News she had put on display food products in the exhibition and hoped her products would attract buyers. She also hoped a suitable market would be found their products.

“Such exhibitions are beneficial, Afghanistan’s products should be exhibited abroad to connect with the world markets.”

Hamidullah Ahmadi, who has displayed medicinal plants, said the plants enjoyed good reputation outside the country.

He stressed such facilities should be provided at home and market for their products found outside the country.

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