President Karzai called the symposium a big step towards scientific research in the field of agriculture, Afghanistan’s main source of revenue, as well as towards finding ways to fight and eliminate drought.  He noted India’s agricultural sector as a model for Afghanistan: “Through a green revolution, India has become an important exporter of grain and vegetables, while a few decades ago there was little attention to agricultural issues in India.”

He also cited droughts as a serious threat to our environment: “A country that was once the largest exporter of raisins and the best fruit in the world is now behind the trade process due to consecutive droughts, wars, and weak administration.”

The President stated that a lack of water is a significant challenge for agricultural development: “Despite having many water resources, Afghans suffer from a high-level of thirst because these resources are not controlled and are often wasted.  In some seasons, people suffer from a lack of water, and in others they are overwhelmed by flash floods.  Water control and a scientific system of irrigation is what Afghanistan needs most.”

“The traditional system of irrigation has, for various reasons, been destroyed in Afghanistan.  One of the causes is the use and installment of water pumps which have tremendously depleted our usable sources of water,” he added.