“Sadaqah Jariyah” (ongoing charity) is the name of the tree-planting campaign launched nationwide this year by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
The Minister of Agriculture stated that although Afghanistan does not significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, it is still among the countries most severely affected by climate change.
Ataullah Omari said that the only way to combat climate change is by planting saplings and expanding green areas.
Speaking at a conference, Omari urged people to cooperate in the care and protection of the planted saplings. He said:
“In recent years, drought and the negative effects of climate change have intensified. In such circumstances, the only factor that can increase rainfall and purify the air is trees and saplings. By greening our areas and planting saplings, we can clean our air and water.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy spoke about Afghanistan’s capacity to export agricultural products to the world, stating that according to international organizations, around 90 percent of Afghanistan’s population is directly or indirectly connected to agriculture.
Officials from the ministry added that Afghanistan has the potential to export agricultural products to other countries.
The Minister of Economy, Din Mohammad Hanif, who participated in the tree-planting campaign, said that a country’s economic growth is not possible without agriculture and a healthy environment. He stated:
“Effective investment in fruit-bearing saplings and the expansion of commercial horticulture can reduce imports of fresh fruits and vegetables and, given the country’s current climate, can strengthen exports of fruits and vegetables. This process will ultimately contribute to economic stability and the stability of the national currency.”
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture said that approximately 19 million saplings are planned to be planted across the country during the upcoming 1405 solar year.
They also stated that approval has been granted to recruit 1,000 new forest guards to protect designated green zones, and they will be hired next year.
Abdul Ahad, Director General of Human Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture, said:
“This year, 18.9 million saplings will be planted nationwide. This effort will be carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with institutions, nursery associations, and individuals. Additionally, approval has been granted to recruit 1,000 forest guards next year, who will be deployed across the country.”
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, over the past four years, nearly 100 million saplings have been planted nationwide in cooperation with various institutions.
However, analysts say that priority should first be given to protecting the saplings. According to them, although hundreds of thousands of saplings are planted each year, many are destroyed during the year due to water shortages or are eaten by livestock.
