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India offers farm aid to Afghanistan

BS Agriculture Editor

India has offered special assistance for supply of seeds, fertilisers, agricultural implements and machinery to Afghanistan. It has also offered the services of two agricultural experts to assist Afghanistan rehabilitate its farm sector.

This will be in addition to the 1 million tonnes of wheat to be supplied to Afghanistan under the World Food Programme.

Afghanistan Agriculture Minister Seyyed Hussein Anwari, who called on Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh on Wednesday, urged him to rush these supplies at the earliest.

This is the second meeting between the two ministers. The earlier meeting was followed by official-level talks to identify the items required by Afghanistan.

The agricultural implements and machinery to be supplied include tractors, seed-cum-fertiliser drills, cultivators, disk harrows and two-wheel trailers.

India has also indicated that good quality equipment for seed processing plants like scalpers, air screen cleaners, specific gravity separators are available in the country and can be supplied on demand to Afghanistan.

The external affairs ministry is considering different options for dispatching wheat to Afghanistan following Pakistan's objection to the consignment being transported through its territory.

The supplies may be sent via Iran. India has requested the UN that since the country is not a traditional donor, transportation and associated costs should be borne by the international agency.

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