Afghanistan: Govt Promoting Saffron Cultivation in Insecure Areas

Aug 30, 2018 | Haidarshah Omid, TOLOnews
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock continues its efforts to promote saffron cultivation in Nangarhar, Farah, Paktia and other insecure provinces as an appropriate alternative for poppy cultivation, officials said on Wednesday. A spokesman for the ministry, Akbar Rustami, said 240,000 tons of saffron seeds will be distributed to farmers across the country this year. Saffron cultivation was first introduced in Herat province – in the west of Afghanistan. Its cultivation is now practiced in 33 provinces, Rustami said.