KABUL, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Badam Bagh in the northern edge of Kabul was packed with Afghan farmers, with a four-day agricultural products exhibition held to help them find markets for their foodstuffs.
The Agricultural Fair, with tight security due to the participation of officials on Wednesday, was launched on Oct. 16 in Kabul to encourage investment in agro-industries and horticulture, and help find customers and market farm products.
"After buying local products like almond, berry, apricot and honey and processing them, I supply the foodstuffs to market," said Shirin Taj Faqiri, a businesswoman from the central Daikundi province.
Sitting in her kiosk, she said she was hopeful some contracts could be inked with new clients in local or oversea markets, adding that hardworking Afghans would be able to stand on their feet if supported.
A wide range of fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products as well as handicrafts were displayed in the kiosks at the four-day fair.
"I hope to find customers and win contracts to supply my products to other provinces other than Kabul," Azatullah, who sells saffron in his stall, told Xinhua.
Azatullah said the price of the homegrown saffron is 60,000 afghanis (769 U.S. dollars) to 100,000 (1,282 U.S. dollars) afghanis depending on its quality.
"The agriculture exhibition is held every quarter or every season. It's the autumn season. We have a lot of agriculture products, dry fruits, fresh fruits and vegetables," Deputy to Agriculture Ministry Hashmatullah Ghafoori told Xinhua at the exhibition.
"We link the producers with the processors, with exporters, and with the businesses, so it's a good platform."
According to Ghafoori, the farmers and companies have put their products in 161 booths at the exhibition backed by the government and a private sector.
Describing the exhibition as a suitable platform to boost agricultural products and their trade, the official said Afghans could even explore foreign markets for their products.
The landlocked and cash-stripped Afghanistan has been striving to overcome the economic challenges. In this regard, the country has opened the air corridor with many countries, including the most populous China and India over the past couple of years to export its products.
Ghafoori said they looked forward to enhancing trade relations with China to import and consume Afghan agriculture products.
