FAO welcomes New Zealand’s $ 2 million contribution to Afghan farmers

KABUL, April 5 (Xinhua) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed New Zealand’s $ 2 million contribution to Afghanistan, the FAO said in a statement Monday.

The contribution will fund a new FAO project to provide humanitarian aid in the form of agricultural funds and financial assistance to 94,500 vulnerable farmers in the Afghan provinces of Kunduz, Nangarhar, Parwan and Wardak, the statement said.

“We welcome New Zealand’s first-ever contribution to FAO’s Emergency and Sustainability Program at this critical time for Afghanistan.” Farmers need quality seeds to plant in early spring and provide a harvest this year, ”said Richard Tranchard, FAO’s representative in Afghanistan.

The statement added that the aid would give farmers the opportunity to plant wheat in low-lying areas of the country or corn and legumes high in protein such as mung beans and chickpeas.

The contribution was made when the interim Taliban-led government stepped up its efforts to address the challenges facing farmers across the country and help them use advanced technology in agriculture, according to agricultural officials.