Local officials in Afghanistan’s Bamyan say Uzbekistan’s private sector is planning to invest in potato production in the province, TOLOnews reported.
A delegation led by the head of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Private Investment, during a meeting with the Bamyan governor, pledged to cultivate 40 metric tons of potato seeds on agricultural land in Bamyan. The harvested yield will later be distributed among farmers in the province.
Saboor Farzan Saighani, spokesperson for the Bamyan governor, said: “These improved potato seeds will be cultivated on 90,000 jeribs of agricultural land in central Bamyan, and the harvested crop is expected to be distributed to farmers as improved seeds. This process will significantly increase potato production in Bamyan.”
Experts describe investment in potato cultivation in Bamyan as an effective step toward increasing production, boosting the local economy, and transferring knowledge of modern agriculture.
University lecturer Sayedkhil Kohi said: “Farmers in Bamyan cultivate potatoes using traditional methods. This initiative will help transfer modern agricultural knowledge to them. In addition, investment in potato production will strengthen the local economy.”
According to officials, the Bamyan governor welcomed the move by Uzbek investors and said efforts are underway to properly implement the pilot cultivation of improved potato seeds in order to create better investment opportunities for other domestic and foreign investors.
