NUG plans to construct 21 dams to control Afghanistan’s waters

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani announced on Saturday that the National Unity Government (NUG) plans to launch work on the construction of 21 water dams to control Afghanistan’s waters.

The announcement was made at the 4th Annual Extension Conference of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.

The president said improving the agriculture sector and controlling Afghanistan’s waters were among his administration’s priority programs.

“Water is the main element for development of agriculture, but not much has been done to manage our country’s water. Our main focus is on managing our waters to protect our farms from floods,” said Ghani. He added that Afghanistan allowed its water to be used by other countries without any payments.

According to reports, billions of cubic meters of Afghanistan water flows into Iran and Pakistan.

President Ghani assured that he would prevent land grabbing and return usurped lands back to the nation.

Four million acres of land reportedly remain usurped while thousands acres have been rescued from land grabbers.

The president called on the private sector to collaborate with the government in promoting Afghanistan agriculture.

He asked the participants to highlight problems facing the agriculture sector and provide suggestions for solutions.

Despite being an agricultural country, Afghanistan yearly imports agricultural materials worth USD 4bn from foreign countries.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Asadullah Zamir highlighted the agriculture programs of his ministry.

Creation of an agriculture information bank at the Ministry of Agriculture, establishing laboratories and animal clinics in rural areas, equipping provincial agriculture departments and creating a contact system with farmers were listed as the important programs of the ministry.