Press Releases 2006
United States and Afghanistan Sign $10 Million Agricultural Agreement
April; 5, 2006
For Immediate Release
106/2006
Contact: Lou Fintor, Spokesman
Telephone: 070-23-4553
United States and Afghanistan Sign $10 Million Agricultural Agreement
Ambassador Ronald Neumann and Minister of Finance Ul-Huq Ahady today signed an agreement under the U.S. Government’s Public Law 480 “Food for Progress” grant program to provide $10 million dollars in U.S. soybean oil and transportation for delivery to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Under the P.L. 480, Title I “Food for Progress” program, the United States provides grants for the purchase and transport of U.S. agricultural commodities. The objective of the “Food for Progress” program is to enhance world Food security by encouraging improvements in agricultural productivity and economic development.
Under the agreement signed today, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will receive 8700 tons of soybean oil scheduled to arrive between July and August 2006. The Government of Afghanistan will utilize the proceeds from the sale of the soybean oil to support long-term capacity building activities at the Ministry of Higher Education and at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food. The areas of focus include agricultural education, agricultural extension, applied agricultural research, animal health and disease surveillance, natural resource management and conservation.