By SPA
Tokyo : The world needs to invest more than US$2 billion (¤1.35 billion) in irrigation, roads and other rural development in Afghanistan, a development bank report said Tuesday.
Only as poor Afghan farmers gain other economic opportunities will they be able to be weaned away from dependence on opium production over time, William Byrd of
the World Bank told reporters in Tokyo, where the report was released on the sidelines of an annual international conference on the country’s reconstruction.
The report called for the boosting of community-based development projects, expanded irrigation, increased use of livestock, and help for rural businesses and entrepreneurs, the Associated Press reported.
It recommends investments of US$1.2 billion (¤810 million) to expand irrigated land, US$550 million (¤370 million) to boost rural enterprise development, and US$400 million
(¤270 million) for rural road planning, construction and maintenance. The money would be spent over up to 10 years, depending on the program.
Assistance is fragmented with 62 donors, many with their own distinct security, political and development interests, said Alastair McKechnie, Afghanistan country director for the World Bank.
The Tokyo meeting is the third to review the progress of ongoing projects over the past year and to discuss future support for Afghanistan.