Global General

US committed to support Afghan agriculture sector

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-05 17:42

KABUL -- United States of America is committed to support Afghan government's efforts to revive agricultural sector and bolster food security in the war-plagued country, US Ambassador to Afghanistan ?Karl W. Eikenberry said Tuesday.

"United States is committed to supporting Afghan Ministry for Agriculture, Irrigation and livestock to strengthen Afghanistan agriculture sector in general and especially to ensure Afghanistan' s food security," the US ambassador told reporters at a joint press conference with Afghan Agriculture Minister Mohammad Asif Rahimi before launching a US-funded wheat and improved seed distribution program.

"Seed and fertilizer distribution in 2010 will benefit over 360,000 farmers in the country's all 34 provinces," Rahimi said at the conference.

The process will cost US$90 million with 62 million of which are provided by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), he said, adding the rest of the fund is provided by France and Britain.

"This is an agriculture battle and we are winning," the Afghan minister stated.

"Our objective is to ensure that every farmer has the most modern seed available," he further said.

However, according to Rahimi, Afghanistan has a shortage of over 700 thousands metric tons of wheat this year.

Meantime, he added that the Afghan government has over 130,000 tons of wheat in its stockpile and in the World Food Program as well.

Destruction of over 600 thousands tons of wheat by devastating floods in neighboring Pakistan has raised concerns among the war-weary Afghans that the war-torn country would face food security problems this winter.

US has invested over 1.5 billion US dollars to provide honor for Afghan agriculture sector including better access to water resources, providing certified seeds, improved roads and access to market since the fall of Taliban regime in late 2001, the top US diplomat said.