KABUL, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- A series of agricultural development projects worth 9.7 million U.S. dollars is set to be launched in eastern Afghanistan's Paktika province, the provincial Department of Information and Culture announced on Thursday.
Funded by international organizations, the projects will focus on improving agricultural productivity and rural incomes through a range of initiatives. These include the construction of irrigation canals and watersheds, the establishment of dairy processing facilities, and the distribution of agricultural machinery and tools to local farmers.
The program also encompasses orchard development and other irrigation-related infrastructure to enhance water management and crop yields.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Afghanistan's rural economy. Official reports from the country's Ministry of Economy indicate that 70 to 75 percent of the country's population lives in rural areas and relies primarily on farming and related activities for their livelihoods. ■