Kabul Sep 18 (IANS) The Afghan government has launched a plan to expand the cultivation of saffron next year in the latest move to boost the domestic economy in the militancy-hit country authorities said on Monday.
The Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock will take measures to expand saffron cultivated areas to 3 000 hectares across the country in 2018 a ministry spokesman said.
Saffron cultivation has expanded to 31 of the country s 34 provinces from only one province a few years ago reports Xinhua news agency.
In 2017 about 6.5 tonnes of saffron was produced against 6 tonnes last year according to the ministry.
Afghan saffron in terms of quality has been named as the world s best by the International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels.
In local Afghan markets 1 kg of saffron is priced at 25 000 afghanis ($375) to 110 000 afghanis ($1 654) depending on the quality.
The Afghan government has taken measures to invest in the agricultural sector to further create job opportunities and to boost the country s economy.
Three decades of war have had a devastating impact on the agriculture sector in the landlocked country.
--IANS
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