Absent key contract, Herat silo jerks into production

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A silo in western Herat province, one of the largest in Afghanistan, has only its wheat storage section operational, while the bread-baking facility remains inactive due to lack of contracts.

Ahmad Sabit, head of Herat’s provincial silo, believed if the baking section was reactivated, the facility could produce and distribute up to 20,000 pieces of high-quality bread.

He said concluding contracts with private companies and government institutions could significantly boost the silo’s operations and support domestic agriculture. The Herat silo exclusively uses the wheat grown by local farmers.

Meanwhile, some employees of the silo urged officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to pay greater attention to improving the facility’s condition.

In response, Mohammad Yousuf Saeed, spokesman for the Herat governor, said the local administration had launched initiatives to strengthen the provincial silo.

As part of such efforts, he said, contracts for supplying bread to civilian and military departments would soon be awarded to the Herat silo.

Officials noted the Herat silo, with a history spanning more than half a century, was one of five facilities active across the country.

These facilities primarily operate in three areas: storage of wheat and flour, milling and baking of bread, cakes and cookies.

sa/mud