Women to benefit from agriculture programme

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): With the distribution of refined seeds and special tents for cultivating vegetables in the winter season, up to 3,000 women in northern Faryab province would benefit from the programme, officials said.

Director of Agriculture Asadullah Bahar told Pajhwok Afghan News the department distributed refined seeds of different vegetables along with plastic and grill among 50 women to establish tent farms.

Bahar expressed satisfaction over the programme and said they had employed some women which would help resolve problems of some farmers.

Nilofar Anayat, head of the gardening program, said that refined seeds and tents were distributed after they surveyed districts of Khwaja Sabzposh, Pashtunkot and Maimana City.

She added that carrot, radish, pepper, cauliflower, cucumber, tomato, eggplant, turnip, and other vegetables would be cultivated.

Nilofar expressed optimism that 3,000 women would benefit from these farms and would receive more agro related aid in the next step.

Fauzia, a resident of Maimana City, said that in the last seven months she could sell vegetables to her neighbors and in the market. They could also use the byproducts like tomato sauce and sell it in the market, she added.

She said they were eleven members in her family and after the programme her financial situation had improved manifold.

Out of the 67 women who get training, at least 15 of them would be selected to attend seminars and then lead the farms. These women would be trained in cultivation, processing and then selling of their products in the market.

According to Faryab agriculture officials, the national gardening program has started last year in the province and till now has accomplished many tasks such as creation of pistachio jungles, water reserves and plan to create the raisin processing job also for women in the near future.

Last week, refined seeds and special tents were distributed among women in Jawzjan province. Agriculture officials said the number of women cultivating vegetables in the province had reached to 1,700 farmers.

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