Uzbekistan and Afghanistan break ground on joint orchard project

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have commenced work on a collaborative orchard initiative in Afghanistan's Faryab province, located in the northwest. The Ministry of Agriculture and its Agroindustrial Development Agency in Uzbekistan made the announcement on July 28, stating that the "Friendship Garden" project was launched during a visit by an Uzbek government delegation to Afghanistan.

The orchard is being developed on a 60-hectare parcel of land within the Khan Charbagh district. The project entails the planting of 40,000 fruit saplings, the installation of a drip irrigation system, and the construction of an 8,000-cubic-meter reservoir to guarantee a consistent water supply for irrigation purposes.

Sardor Koyshibaev, a chief specialist from the Agroindustrial Development Agency, was present at the groundbreaking ceremony, alongside officials from both Faryab province and Khan Charbagh district.

According to the agency, this project is expected to facilitate the adoption of contemporary horticultural techniques, increase fruit output, and enhance cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Earlier reports indicated that Tashkent was exploring the possibility of acquiring agricultural products from Afghanistan as a measure to help stabilize prices in the markets of the Uzbek capital.