Herat and Iran Sign Key Agricultural and Trade Agreements
Local officials in Herat say they have signed cooperation agreements with Iranian traders covering 1,200 hectares of land for the cultivation of sugar beet, maize, and cotton; the export of meat and dried fruits from Herat to Iran; the establishment of a joint company between Afghan and Iranian traders; and capacity-building programs for Afghan farmers.
Iranian traders say these bilateral agricultural partnerships will positively impact the economic conditions of farmers in Herat.
Bashir Ahmad Bahadari, head of the Herat Chamber of Agricultural and Livestock Products, said: “We agreed that Afghan and Iranian traders will jointly invest. A joint company will be established to build trust. We will import necessary goods from Iran and export agricultural products from Herat that are needed there.”
The Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce said that the recent agreements will boost the import and export of agricultural products between the two countries.
Kourosh Shojaei, a member of the Scientific and Research Committee of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said: “Various committees are monitoring import and export programs. The needs of both sides, such as for grains and meat, are being assessed and will soon reach final outcomes.”
Asadullah Habibi, head of an agricultural production company in Herat, said: “Trade relations must be two-way. We should not only be seen as consumers but as economic partners. We asked our Iranian counterparts to take a broader, strategic view of Afghanistan. Without a shift in perspective, constructive cooperation cannot happen.”
Herat is one of Afghanistan’s richest provinces in agriculture, yielding large amounts of fruits and vegetables annually.
However, the lack of export opportunities has long been a major concern for farmers in the province. With the newly signed agreements between Afghanistan and Iran, farmers are hopeful they can now export their products at fair prices.
