WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- Boosting Afghanistan's farming capabilities remains a priority for the World Bank in lending to the country.
So as Afghanistan continues to struggle getting its economy back on track after years of war and Taliban rule, the country has secured a $25 million loan from the international financial agency to improve its irrigation system.
The bank's executive board approved the aid package late Tuesday from its International Development Agency Fund, which provides low interest rate loans for the poorest countries. The latest sum is part of a financial assistance program that the bank had agreed to provide to Afghanistan to support its reconstruction efforts in December 2004.
The money will be used to help farmers obtain an adequate and reliable supply of water in traditional irrigation schemes. The financial agency said the aid will "ensure the completion of 635 water irrigation schemes which could have been left out if the award of contracts were terminated due to (the) lack (of) funds."
