KABUL: President Ashraf Ghani has said Afghanistan’s chilgoza pine should be relieved from its dependence on Pakistani market and that revenue from the pine, saffron, almond and other dried fruits could reach $2 billion annually if market is found for them.
The president said this while addressing a number of farmers at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on Thursday evening. The meeting comes after a national farmer’s day was observed nationwide.
Ghani said labor was worship in Islam and thanked farmers for employing most of the country’s population. He greeted the farmers on the new Persian year.
The president once again extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed and wounded in Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Kabul.
About the management of the country’s water resources, the president said water was Afghanistan’s pride which should in control and accessible to all.
Ghani said the country’s land had not been properly used and his government had programs to pave the ground for Sharia bank loans to farmers and protection of their properties.
In a reference to potatoes produced in central Bamyan province, the president said chips making factories were being established in order to prevent foreign chips from being imported to the country.
He said Afghanistan saffron had a good market in China and market for other exports should be found. Ghani said the Afghan chilgoza pine should be relieved from its reliance on Pakistani market.
