Saturday May 25, 2013
Kabul (BNA) The ministry of agriculture, irrigation and animal husbandry considers rehabilitating and activating Agriculture Development Bank (ADB).
According to the in charges of ministry of agriculture, these are the old aspiration of farmers and after ratification by council of ministers would be opened soon and commence its activities again.
Despite the loan giving was continuing since two years by the construction and mortgage fund of the ministry of agriculture, but because of vast dimension of loan giving, one person can open account number individually in this bank. Naturally, comparing fund, through bank, the services be expanded.
The spokesman of ministry of agriculture and irrigation, Majidullah Qarar says that rehabilitation of export promotion bank is one of important projects of the ministry and told newsmen that the reason behind establishment of ADB is rendering services to farmers and horticulturists. This means that after establishment of ADB, loans would be provided. He added that despite the ministry of agriculture and irrigation commenced loan giving as of two years to peasants, but it was problematic, because, we can’t maintain contact with peasants individually. The larger our loan-giving was $100000, this is a great figure. But, one of the benefits of agricultural bank is this that the peasants can deal individually.
The second issue is having private account by peasant in the bank. To reactivate the bank, we worked two years on selection of model, satisfying of donors for investment and employment of a team which to have experiences in international level. Likewise, a sum of $150 million which was allotted by the US, it is 50 million dollars in management sector and model for employment of the team and &100 million other was laid down at the bank disposal as loan so to be circulated. The loan is paid according to the demand of peasant and growers that be in accord with their requirements and capabilities. 
They have no sufficient literacy, but the experts are standing beside them so to help them in providing program that is in their benefit. Qarar added that the high level of loan-giving would reach to $one million. About 20000 farmers benefited from the loan of bank last year. In present system, the low level of loan is $100000. We don t deal with farmers individually, but we give loan through cooperative. For example: in Nangarhar, loan was given to the fruit producers union and at the same manner loan was given to cooperative. Previously, till 100000 afs were dealt, but in the future, that in the individually to be dealt, the lowest level should be 10000 afs, and some peasants would have no more capability than that. Taking loan as the affairs in charges and economic experts lay emphasize on it, is effective for promotion of productive capacities, but the requirements of today farmers is more than that. The pedants and horticulturists of the country need to equipped spring houses so to keep their products in it and use them when they demanded. With the acceptance of this farmers , requirement , it should be said that the ministry of agriculture and irrigation would establish 30 spring houses for keeping fruits and vegetables with the capacity of 5000 tons of the said items . In the first step, this ministry would establish eight commercial spring houses in six provinces of the country that their total capacity reaches to 40000 tons. This is a good capacity. This program continues till three next years. According to the in charges of ministry of agriculture and irrigation, the management and irrigation, the management of these spring houses are belong to peasants and private sectors and in the near future the cooperatives would promote the management of large spring houses and as competitor in market for protection of products and for offering of these products to share in spring houses though their own addresses. But, this question is raised that with having such special programs, the ministry of agriculture and irrigation, would have another program so with its implementation, the government to meddle in market sans any pretext for free market. I n respond this question of ministry of agriculture , it should be said that beside all these programs for keeping balance in prices and when the government to face with problem and have a means in its hand to rescue from problems , this ministry considers to establish a strategic administration for strategic reservoirs and makes effort to inaugurate this project this year.
According to these projects, those silos which were active previously and were promoting the activities such as purchasing wheat from peasants and its storage and offering when it was necessary be rehabilitated. Likewise, other facilities of this program is this that hereafter , the consuming institutions of governments such as national army and police , would purchase their needed wheat from this administration in the future that from one hand , the wheat of peasants are purchased and on the other , it would be a reliable address for government institutions.
This initiative would take place after coordination with ministry of commerce and industry.
They believe that the basic aim of this project is this that the peasants, yields to find market and on the other facilities be provided for consumers. These facilities help both sides, either peasants or consumers to benefit from it. If was necessary, the government would meddle positively in the market. According to the ministry of agriculture in and irrigation, such meddling in market is common world-wide.
As Afghanistan is land – locked country, it needs to establish a strategic reservoir. This country is vulnerable, because, the neighbors repeatedly use the commercial and food items as political means. In such a situation the capacity –building should be made.
Dose establishment of strategic reservoirs and silos satisfy the market. In respond Qarar said that to build capacity for 10 percent population of Afghanistan, we should reserve for one year that estimates about 500000 metric tons. Beside government possibilities we encourage for establishment of private silos as well.
He continued that in connection with food items reservoirs, in neighboring countries, private sectors also have their own active contribution. As a whole, with government and private sector possibilities, it’s common that every year, the wheat yields are not the same specially, we are leaning over rain –fed wheat and during drought, we faced with serious problem. When the yields are sufficient, peasants have no market for their products.. In such a situation, Afghanistan should have a reservoir of 500000 tons wheat, especially in the years this country is faced with problems.
 

Wednesday 22, May 2013
Kabul (BNA) The authorities in ministry of finance report about gratis aid of World Bank (WB) to Afghanistan in professional education.
The agreement was signed by Finance Minister Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhewal and acting governor of World Bank in Afghanistan Willingo Pachmota. Omar Zakhewal says that Afghanistan lauds the WB financial and technical cooperation for promotion of professional education in Afghanistan. During signing ceremony, it was said that this cooperation continues for five years beginning from 2013 and continues till the end of 2018. Zakhewal stated that sufficient investment on young generation is a fundamental need and more concentration should be taken place in this connection. He added that through growth of procession, the youth can be useful in durable economic growth. The aim behind this project is promotion of capacities and skills of Afghan youth. Dr. Zakhewal asserted that the activities of this project concentrated more on establishment of necessary systems and enforcement of those institutions belong to professional education. According to figures, now 7000 students are engaged in professional education. The first phase of this program covered from beginning of 2001 till 2012. The acting governor of WB said that this bank continues its cooperation in the sector of professional education in Afghanistan. He said that we have also another eight to ten projects in this regard and then we offer them to the government of Afghanistan. Acting governor of WB in Afghanistan added that this program implements in five years. Through this, employment would provide for professional youth. More authorities in ministry of education reported about unprecedented increment in cooperation of WB to this ministry. Minister of Education Dr. Farouq Wardak has said that the WB considers increase its cooperation to education of Afghanistan from $ 27 million to $ 125 million. It is planned that the second project for promotion of skills be implemented through the ministry of education for five years. This is in a time that the ministry of labor and social affairs to take a great number of individuals under professional training that now is practically working.
 

Saturday May 18, 2013
Kabul (BNA) More than 1 billion US dollars have been invested in the sector of communication in Afghanistan; stated by Wahabdin Sadat the deputy and acting minister for communication and information technology to mark the International Communication Day here yesterday.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the day he added that more than 88 percent of the country’s populations have been covered by communication service.
He also said that Afghanistan through optic fiber has been linked to the neighboring states and world; while the work for connecting provinces to district and to the villages is going on.
In his speech, Mubariz Rashidi the deputy minister of publication of ministry for information and culture said the today there are operating some 170 radio and 70 television channels in the country.
He also noted, it is important for the ministry of information and culture to improve and enrich the contents of the programs of the media outlets.
 

Saturday, May 18, 2013
Kabul (BNA) President Hamid Karzai inaugurated Qasaba’s Housing project in Khwajah Rawash of Kabul city, funded by the United Arabic Emirates (UAE) funded by Abdu Dhabi Development Fund.
The inauguration ceremony was organized by the Ministry of Urban Development MoUD) yesterday in Qasabaa where president Karzai thanking the  UAE assistant said, “I am very pleased that Allah the Almighty has enabled us to take another step for welfare and betterment of the lives of our people, a step taken by the generous assistance, support and attention of a brotherly country-the United Arab Emirates”.
President Karzai said:  “When I had a visit to the UAE, his Highness President Sheikh Khalifa pledged to fund this project which starts practically today.”
The president added, “This project will help those, who cannot buy high-priced houses, to become owners of house so it is very important for those needy people to enjoy having house”.
President Karzai hoped that the UAE would further increase its assistance with Afghanistan in housing sector.  The president assured “I will personally monitor the implementation process of this major development project so that it could be completed with highest quality and on time.”  Briefing on the project, Mohammad Saif Al Suwaidi, Acting Director General of Abdu Dhabi Fund for Development, said. “We are proud that this project reflects close ties that bind the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.”
He added, “The leadership of the UAE supports the efforts of your Excellency to achieve comprehensive development in all fields.”  Mohammad Saif Al Suwaidi stressed, “The housing project in Qasaba, Kabul is an example for   one of the vital development projects administered by the Abdu Dhabi Fund for Development in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to contribute in support of efforts to promote the housing sector and to provide the elements of a decent life for Afghan society.”
Hassan Abdullahi, Minister of Urban Development also spoke about the project, stating that for safe, quality and low-cost housing, MoUD desiged a housing policy in the past two years that fortunately led to a decline in prices of houses in the market and created a competitive environment for housing business in the private sector of Afghanistan.  Minister of Urban Development said, this housing project would build 111 five-story buildings consisting of totally 3333 apartments through generous assistance of $179 million by the United Arab Emirates.  He added that Trojan General Constricting would construct these buildings on 268 acres of land, with all public facilities such as mosques, clinic, kindergarten, canalization system, water supply system, asphalted roads and park.  Hassan Abdullahi noted this project that provides employment opportunities for 3000 workers on a daily basis would be completed within three years.