U.S. pledges 36 million dollars for Afghan agriculture sector
0 
In efforts to enhance and modernize agriculture sector in Afghanistan, the United States has pledged 36 million U.S. dollars to boost agriculture sector in the war- torn country, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry said Sunday.
"This is a 36 million U.S. dollars initiative that will modernize the Afghan Ministry for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock operations and help it even more effective in Kabul and all other provinces," ambassador Eikenberry told a one-day seminar attended by some 300 Afghan and U.S. agriculture officials and specialists.
The initiative, he added, has two objectives to help Afghan agriculture ministry develop capacity and managed funds received from the donors.
"The ministry for agriculture would provide services to Afghan farmers directly," he said. The second objective is to establish an office that will analyze ministry's functions and achievements.
Reaffirming the U.S. long-term commitments, Eikenberry said, " This project here today is another tangible sign, tangible commitment of Americans for Afghan government and Afghanistan's people."
"Our job today is to connect American know how to Afghan policies and change the life of Afghan farmers and their families, " said Afghan Agriculture Minister Mohammad Asif Rahimi at the seminar.
He said the seminar will discuss Afghanistan's agricultural priorities with the U.S. technical support. "We will succeed together if we each contribute and we each do our best," said Rahimi.
