Hazara Nation

A delegation of nine Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) led by Mr. Philippe Morillon of France are currently visiting Afghanistan to see first hand the performance of European Union (EU) funded projects especially regarding their transparency and effectiveness in the utilization of allocated funds. One key project that has been selected for examination by the MEPs is the Bamyan Branch of the Variety and Seed Industry Development Project, which is implemented by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). This project is being financed by euro 10 million from the EU for five years, and has ongoing activities in nine provinces although its certified seed is distributed and used by farmers nationwide.

The visiting delegation was welcomed at the Bamyan project office on 29 April 2008 by the FAO Representative, Mr. Tekeste Tekie, together with the Chief Advisor to the Minister of MAIL and Chairman of the National Seed Committee, Eng. Mirdad Panjsheri, Mr. Tahir Attaye, Director of Agriculture in Bamyan province and Sam Kugbei, FAO Chief Technical Advisor for the project. Amongst project activities viewed by the delegation were the wheat and potato variety screening experiments at the Mullah Ghulam Farm, a modern potato storage prototype and tissue culture laboratory complex under construction. They also visited the Bamyan Baastan Pilot Private Seed Enterprise in the Foladi valley about 8 km outside Bamyan city.

The delegation was warmly received at the Bamyan Baastan Enterprise by a large group of enthusiastic farmers from the surrounding communities, who had come to express their appreciation to the EU for the assistance they receive and to convey their greetings to the citizens of the European Community. These were sentiments expressed on behalf of the enterprise members and farmers by their Head, Haji Mohammad Hussein. The delegation and farmers shared tea accompanied by delicious cookies, baked potatoes and bread, all prepared from specific varieties that the project has made available for seed multiplication.

In addressing the group of farmers, Mr. Philippe Morillon congratulated and thanked them for their excellent work and described the project as a good example of well spent EU funds, which makes them as donors more interested in helping to improve the livelihood of poor farmers in a country like Afghanistan. He also stated that he will inform the European Parliament of this fulfilling experience.

For more information please contact:

Assadullah Azhari
Information Officer
FAO Kabul Afghanistan
+ 93 (0) 700 274 515
assadullah.azhari@fao.org