The Italian Government, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, has allocated two million euros to support Afghanistan’s agricultural sector and especially the rural communities of Herat and Bamyan. The project beneficiaries are approximately 5,000 small producers belonging to the high-value supply chain of saffron, honey, raisins, vegetables and fresh dairy products.
The technical agreement on the implementation of the initiative was signed by Italian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Roberto Cantone, and by the Afghan Minister of Finance, Eklil Ahmad Hakimi. Ambassador Cantone said: “The challenge of agricultural development lies in the economic growth of rural communities and in lowering food insecurity and poverty. What we intend to support with this programme is the development of several high-value supply chains through which to combat the impoverishment of rural areas and encourage the growing of crops other than opium.”
Italy has supported agricultural development projects in Afghanistan since 2009, with a total contribution of nearly 11.2 million euros, thus confirming its traditional commitment on the issue of food security and nutrition.
Italian Embassy in Kabul
https://ambkabul.esteri.it/ambasciata_kabul/it
