The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock is all set to build a compound of fruit packaging facility and a laboratory in Badam Bagh area in Kabul. Work on the compound is to be completed within the next seven months, the agriculture minister Nasir Ahmad Durani said.
The laboratory equipment will be imported from the US and Europe, he said. “We hope that by the next seven months, this complex will be inaugurated. By activation of the complex, we will issue fruit quality certificates in line with the international standards for the fruit being exported. Currently the US and Europe markets demand such certificates.”
According to tolonews.com, officials from the European Union meanwhile said Afghan products should be packaged in line with the international packaging standards and also hold accredited quality certificates in order to find their way to Europe markets.
Besides this project, the European Union is funding the construction of four cold storage facilities for pomegranate farmers in the Khulm district (Balkh province). Work on that project will be completed by the end of this year, officials said. It aims to provide facilities to farmers to keep their produce fresh while waiting to send it on to domestic and foreign markets.
An official from the European Union delegation to Afghanistan said they will continue their efforts to pave the ground for the export of fruit to Europe.
