Local officials in Takhar province have announced the establishment of a major salt production and refining plant, with an investment worth 45 million AFN.

The new facility is expected to meet international standards and will have an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 tons of high-quality salt.

Abdul Rahman Ghaznawi, Head of Industry and Commerce in Takhar, commented on the project’s significance: "Today, we inaugurated a new salt refining factory here. We urge local traders not to relocate their investments abroad but to invest in building factories here. The government will fully support them."

The decision to build the plant was driven by the region’s lack of a salt refining facility and the improving security situation in Takhar, according to company officials. The new plant is poised to address this gap while ensuring the production of premium-quality salt for both domestic use and export.

Mohammad Nabi Mansour, head of the salt refining company, reassured potential investors: "We guarantee full security in the region, and there are no issues hindering investment. We are confident this is a solid opportunity and are working with our partners with full trust."

Local residents of Takhar are calling on other investors to consider contributing to the country's self-sufficiency by investing in various sectors, especially in Takhar.

Notably, Takhar is rich in natural mineral resources, and investments in the province have the potential to boost production, which could then be exported to neighboring countries, particularly Tajikistan.

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) have revealed that over one billion dollars have been invested in the poultry production sector across Afghanistan.

According to the ministry, investment in this sector continues to rise, with approximately 15,000 poultry farms currently operating nationwide.

Misbahuddin Mustain, spokesman for MAIL, said: "At present, around 15,000 poultry farms are actively operating throughout Afghanistan, collectively valued at over one billion dollars."

However, despite this significant investment, the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock notes that Afghanistan has not yet achieved self-sufficiency in poultry production.

"The poultry sector has significantly reduced imports and stopped importing old chickens into the country. We support this sector. Currently, egg imports are ongoing due to a shortage of eggs,” said Mirwais Hajizada, deputy head of the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock.

Economic experts believe there is substantial potential for further investment in the poultry industry, stressing that continued growth is essential for the country to reach full self-sufficiency.

Despite the ongoing investments, Afghanistan imports chicken and eggs from neighboring countries. Industry officials are urging the government to focus on expanding the sector, to transform Afghanistan into an exporter of poultry products in the near future.

Fish farmers in Kandahar say that the water level in the province has decreased significantly and the problem has affected 50 percent of fish farms in the southern Afghan province.

Mohammad Ibrahim, head of the Kandahar Fish Farmers’ Union, says: “The number of farms has decreased by 50 to 60 percent. In the past, there were up to 1,800 farms, but now there are about 250 active farms left. There are also inactive farms, but their number is small.”

Fish farmers call for building dams to divert water. They say that surface water should be used for raising fish, not groundwater.

Toryalai, a farmer in Kandahar, says: “Drought has made fish farms very dry. The water level has decreased a lot and this problem has affected the farmers.”

Meanwhile, officials of the Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Kandahar province say fish farmers have been provided with necessary assistance.

Toryalai Agha, Director of the Livestock Promotion Department of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock of Kandahar province, says: “Some NGOs have helped them and have provided them with equipment and fish farming training programs.”

Based on information from officials of the Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Kandahar province, about 152 large and 700 small fish farming farms are operating in the province, producing 700 kilograms of fish daily.