An estimated 50,000 businesspeople, agricultural producers, and residents of this city and nearby districts flocked to the Mazar-i-Sharif International Agricultural Fair (AgFair) held at the Mechaniza-i-Zeraati fair site from October 30-31. The event was considered by many to be the biggest and most important trade and agricultural event held in the northern province of Balkh in many years.
In his welcoming remarks, newly-installed Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Asif Rahimi declared full support to the AgFair series, stating that he is aware of the excellent results in improving production for domestic consumption and for exports. Balkh Governor General Atta Mohammad Noor called on all businesses and farmers in the province to take advantage of this rare event to learn about new technologies and modern farming methods being taught at the AgFair’s Knowledge Center. Minister Rahimi and Governor Noor inspected the AgFair’s Demonstration Farm and visited all 120 booths.
A representative from the Mazar-based Barakat Company Ltd., a regular AgFair participant, revealed that his company has sold a total of 75 units of tractors to Tajik businessmen that attended the Kunduz AgFair in June 2008. He acknowledged that the Kunduz AgFair played an important role in introducing the buyers to Barakat Company Ltd. and supporting these business transactions. The company’s sales to local farmers have likewise grown through the AgFairs, which strongly promotes agricultural mechanization.
According to James Kunder, Acting Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the AgFair is an effective way to invigorate the agricultural sector by helping to increase exports and in-country trading. He added that agriculture is also important in tackling the pending food crisis.
The Herat-based Golchin Tomato Paste Production Co., currently the only Afghan producer of processed tomato products, has participated in all AgFairs to date. A company representative said the trade event had helped him greatly to promote his product within Afghanistan and increase patronage of the locally-manufactured products.
The AgFair was attended by 31 international business representatives from Germany, India, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and the United Arab Emirates and drew 120 agriculture and related business enterprises from several northern provinces and from as far away as Kabul, Jalalabad, and Herat. The event was designed both to match international buyers with Afghan suppliers, facilitate business deals, and stimulate the Afghan agriculture sector in the face of a food shortage.
The AgFairs are organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency, the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan, and the Afghan Raisin, Fruits and Vegetables Export Promotion Department of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, with the support of USAID.