KABUL (PAN): Economy of Kabul people mainly depends on trade and employment in urban areas while residents of suburbs are associated with the occupation of agriculture and livestock.
Kabul city is divided into 22 municipality districts. It has five million populations.
In addition, Kabul province has 15 districts where one million people are living in these districts.
The residents of Kabul city earns their livelihood through trade, employment in government and private sector or other services while inhabitants of districts depends on agriculture, orchards and livestock for their livelihood.
Agriculture:
The Ministry of Agriculture said it had provided a number of facilities to the farmers’ community in the province.
Mohammad Asif Rahimi, Minister of Agriculture on the occasion of agriculture exhibition said immense development had been noticed in production of fresh fruits and vegetable.
He went on to say that the distribution of refined seeds and fertilizers caused bumper crops and economic benefits to the farmers.
Rahimi said that multiple orchards have been set up in provinces including Kabul which helped in development of agriculture in the country.
The ministry is looking for decent markets inside and outside the country in order to benefit the farmers, he added.
Mohmmad Asif Rahimi, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation along with governor of Kabul and head of provincial council said that the ministry invested millions of dollars to develop the agriculture sector of the province.
According to Rahimi, cold storages, green houses, processing plants, livestock centers, and organization of workshops for the capacity building for farmers are among these projects.
He informed these projects worth $10.8 million extended by development budget of his ministry.
Abdul Majeed Qarar, spokesman of Agriculture Ministry said that the farmers of Kabul province were provided with refined seeds, fertilizers, process plants, and capacity building workshops.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News the ministry was committed to flourish agriculture to the extant so that the country was no more in need to import agriculture products.
The agriculture ministry says that 8% residents of suburbs in Kabul province are mainly associated with agriculture and acquires their economic needs through this way.
The districts of Kabul province produce best quality of fruits and vegetables such as grapes, apple, apricots, peach, plum and others.
On the other hand, the residence of northern districts in Kabul provience complains low scale agriculture development in their areas.
Abdul Baseer, a resident of Shakardarah district in Kabul province says that beside large scale orchards onions, potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, wheat and other kinds of vegetables are widely cultivated in the district.
He further said that government extends its cooperation in terms of fertilizers and refined seeds, however, the Malaks (village elder) are involved in the abduction of those assistance.
He demanded the authorities to strictly follow the process of assistance with the farmers.
Saifullah, a resident of Qarabagh district told Pajhwok Afghan News grapes are the only products of their income, and the government never came to help them.
Gul Mohammad, a resident of Farzah district says that they are deprived of irrigation system and the existing system is in dilipadated conditions.
The residents of De Sabz district says that they are deprived of government assistance in agriculture sector.
Akram Khan, the owner of orchard in the district told Pajhwok Afghan News they develop their own irrigation system for their orchards, besides their personal efforts.
He went on to say that De Sabz produce quality grapes and the government need to extend cooperation to the farmers in order to make them earn more money form their orchards.
He said that grapes were sold on low prices which did not satisfy the farmers.
Hashmatullah Enayat, head of Kabul Agriculture Department said that proper plan is underway to bolster the vital agriculture sector in the province.
He went on to say that in the current year 280 projects are under consideration to be launched worth $15 million.
Enayat said that people will be persuaded to grow livestock and dairy products.
Provincial authorities of Kabul province said that multiple projects such as irrigation, construction of dames, distribution of refined seeds and fertilizers, cold storages and green houses are implemented in the province until now.
Moreover, the farmers are provided with tractors, and other developed system of cultivation, authorities said.
Sources say that large scale development took place in part of livestock by providing them with veterinary clinics and other facilities.
Trade and Commerce:
Beside agriculture sector many people in Kabul province accommodate their need through trade, government and private sector employment.
Being the capital of the country, Kabul city is the center of government and non-government organizations where thousands of people are employed.
Khan Jan Alkozai, assistance head of chamber of industries and commerce said that trade and commerce witnessed immense development in Kabul city which helped thousands of people to find job opportunities.
He further said that hundreds of Afghans are involved in trade with China, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian States, they have regular export and import to these countries.
However, Alkozai pointed out the nonexistence of electricity and lack of industrial parks was the main causes of decline in economic growth in the last couple of year.
According to Khanjan, many people are without job after a dramatic decline in the employment opportunities.
He said that post 2014 circumstances would affect the economic condition of Kabul as well.
He said that decline in the foreign assistance is also effecting the lives of several by losing their jobs.
Abdul Khalil, a resident of Kabul says that he work in a foreign NGO and get salary in dollars as a result their economy improved a lot.
He expressed concern that many people will lose their jobs once the international community leaves Afghanistan in 2014.
On the other hand, government employees are complaining from low salaries, they say that the current salaries accommodate them for only ten days in the month.
Dost Mohammad, a teacher at a government school says that his salary accommodate him for ten days in the month.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We have to work part time in order to feed our families”
Handcraft:
Comparing to other parts of the country, the handicraft industry is flourishing in Kabul city.
Besides weaving carpets, other handcrafts such as caps, jackets, gloves are weaved in the province.
These products are put on exhibition by AISA and other NGOs several times.
Last month, an exhibition of handcrafts was organized in 3rd Macroyan ok Kabul city where multiple patterns such as carpets, rugs, necklace, bracelets, clothes and other products were shown to the visitors.
Zahra Husaini, one of the participants who came with his handcraft product in exhibition told Pajhowk Afghan News: “I made necklace and bracelets and rings from precious stones and want to sell it in the exhibition.
She said since 22 years she is involved in this filed.
Hussaini said that she distribute work among several women and then pay for their work.
According to her, as many as 90 women are working in the company.
Zulaikha, a resident of Dashti-d-Barchi area in Kabul said that she weaves carpet and sell it.
She told Pajhowk Afghan News she along with her three children weaves four meter carpet and sell it on 12,000 afghanis in the market.
Sayed Kazim, who makes wooden pots, says that he has decent income from his handcraft.
He makes multiple products from woods and latter sell it in the market.
In order to bolster the handcraft industry in Kabul province, an institute by the name of Feroz Kho Afghan Handcraft is established in Murad Khani area of Kabul city.
Meanwhile, as many as 106 boys and girls are imparted with the skill of art, calligraphy, goldsmith and carpentry in the institute.
Khalili said that the mentioned institute has 69 graduates until now and absorbs 40-45 newcomers annually.
Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) says that the country handcraft products has decent market in the world, according to the agency, the country handcraft product have been set to exhibition in different parts of the world which attracted large number of consumers.
Similarly, the northern parts of Kabul such as Estalif and Qarabagh district is known for its mud pots which are later designed in attractive color.
Mohammad Ameen, a businessman told Pajhwok Afghan News: “I work hard to make quality pots and attract more consumers. I get decent revenue from my handcraft products and afford my family expenses through this way.