Afghanistan looks to squeeze new markets from pomegranates
The Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Company is being hailed as a beacon of hope for Afghanistan's fractured farming sector.It is the country's first juice concentrate factory, designed mainly to transform succulent pomegranates into juices and purees for consumption at home and around the world.
Some 200 people, including 70 women, will work in two shifts around the clock at the factory, while the government estimates that 50,000 farmers will benefit directly from its creation.
Pomegranates -- found everywhere in Afghanistan and hailed by its people as the best in the world -- will be the main fruit, although there are plans to process apples, melons, peaches and apricots.
Mustafa Sadiq, owner of Omaid Bahar Processing Facility and Tom Vilsack, the US secretary of agriculture, exchange greetings at Omaid Bahar Processing Facility.
Tom Vilsack, the US secretary of agriculture, and Mustafa Sadiq, owner of Omaid Bahar Processing Facility, at a conference in Omaid Bahar Processing Facility.
Tom Vilsack and Mustafa Sadiq at a conference in Omaid Bahar Processing Facility.
Tom Vilsack speaks with apple farmers during a visit to Omaid Bahar Processing Facility.
The ribbon is cut to inaugurate the Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Facility.
Dan Mooney, chief of party of USAID's Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP), pours fresh juice for the Italian Ambassador and other dignitaries.
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Mohammad Asif Rahimi, Wardak Governor Hadim Fidai and Mustafa Sadiq, owner of the juice factory, examine apples from Wardak province during a tour of the Omaid Bahar facility.
Workers prepare fruit at the Omaid Bahar Juice Concentrate Processing and Fresh Fruit Packaging Facility.
The Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Company opened the first fruit processing and juicing facility in Afghanistan on October 15, 2009. The factory will produce juices from Afghan pomegranates, apples, melons, apricots, and peaches.
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Mohammad Asif Rahimi and other guests observe the juicing process at the new Omaid Bahar Juice Concentrate Processing and Fresh Fruit Packaging Facility in Kabul.
Juicing begins at the Omaid Bahar Juice Concentrate Processing and Fresh Fruit Packaging Facility.
Fruit is inspected by workers at the Omaid Bahar factory.
The Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Company employs approximately 200 workers, many of whom are women.
Pomegranates are processed for juicing at the Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Company's new factory.
A worker at the Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Company shows the factory's modern facilities. The factory will produce juice from Afghan pomegranates, apples, melons, apricots, and peaches.
The new Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Company factory makes high-quality pomegranate juice for domestic consumption and export.
Mustafa Sadiq, owner of Omaid Bahar Processing Facility and Tom Vilsack, the US secretary of agriculture, exchange greetings at Omaid Bahar Processing Facility.
The ribbon is cut to inaugurate the Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Facility.
