November 26, 2007

15,000 Attend ACDI/VOCA’s Agricultural Fair in Northern Afghanistan

Fifteen thousand people—three times more than expected—attended an ACDI/VOCA-organized, first-ever Agricultural Fair (“AgFair”) held in the northern part of Afghanistan October 29-30. Working with a PADCO-led team in Afghanistan, ACDI/VOCA mounted the fair as part of the four-year, $59.9 million Alternative Livelihoods Program. More than 500 cooperative farmers took part in the fair, which was hosted by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and funded by USAID.

The AgFair was an opportunity for farmers to connect with agroentrepreneurs, learn modern commercial farming techniques, and enjoy good food and entertainment. Exhibitors included producers of tthan cloth, women-run food-processing businesses, fruit-drying enterprises, NGOs offering veterinary and agricultural advice, and vendors of a diverse array of products ranging from fertilizer to farm equipment to solar cells.

The AgFair also featured expert demonstrations in such areas as modern fruit-drying techniques and gabion-wire weaving, which provides a rare opportunity for women to earn an income in the construction industry.

Many stallholders stated that in two days at the AgFair, they had made more money than they usually did in a month—a particular boost for women and exhibitors from distant mountain districts.

To learn more about ACDI/VOCA's work in Afghanistan, click here.