Press Release

Helmand AgFair Draws Over 3,000 Attendees

AgFair provides a marketplace for businesses, farmers, traders and local communities

Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province | Thursday, August 14, 2008

More than 3,000 people recently attended the agricultural fair (AgFair) in Helmand Province hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and USAID.

The AgFair opened with speeches by Helmand Governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal and the Director of the Helmand Ministry of Agriculture, Gulam Nabi. A Helmandi farmer and a local trader also gave speeches stressing the importance of meeting at the AgFair to solidify business relationships.

The AgFair attracted farmers and business people from all over Helmand to celebrate Helmand’s licit agriculture. Building on the success of the first fair in September 2007, this year’s fair continued to be a driving force in boosting the province’s agricultural sector. AgFair 2008 connected Afghan farmers with traders; educated Afghan farmers and local communities on the latest agricultural techniques, technologies, and equipment; and provided a marketplace environment where women, traders, and cooperatives sold their local crafts, products, and agricultural produce.

“The Helmand AgFair is the only place that local women have to show their businesses in designing clothes and handicrafts,” said Karima, a local woman who attended the fair. “There is no real market to sell these types of traditional Helmandi products locally so we were all very excited to have traders from outside of Helmand come to the fair to see what we can create.”

AgFairs generate income and provide new opportunities for Afghanistan’s farmers and agribusinesses. Demonstrations on developing economically viable poultry and livestock businesses were well-attended. The Helmand event showcased products from over 110 exhibitors including private businesses, traders, non-governmental organizations, and farmers' cooperatives from Helmand – 12 booths were dedicated to showcasing products made by almost 500 Helmandi women.

Thanks to collaboration between the Afghan National Police, the National Directorate of Security, and the Afghan National Army, Helmand AgFair 2008 passed without a single security incident.

Learn more: Agriculture | Alternative Development | Economic Growth

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