The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) on Tuesday said they have finalized the plan to establish a major milk processing plant in Kabul which will cost 240 million AFs. 

According to MAIL officials, the factory will be established jointly by the ministry and the private sector. 

MAIL spokesman Akbar Rustami said the construction phase of the factory will start by the end of this year. 

“The processing factories that have been established in the past by MAIL or the private sector and also the new factory which is planned, all will play a significant role in making Afghanistan self-reliance in this regard,” Rustami said. 

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) meanwhile said they are ready to invest in dairy production and processing. 

ACCI deputy spokesman Khan Jan Alokozay said currently the private sector has invested $25 million USD in dairy production. 

“Government should invest in capacity building and production and the private sector should invest in farming to increase Afghanistan’s dairy production,” said Alokozay. 

Statistics show that Afghanistan produces over two million liters of milk a year and imports over three million liters annually. 

The total amount spent each year on imported milk is about $100 million USD.