The Annual Grapes Festival kicked off in the presence of senior government officials in western Herat province of Afghanistan on Wednesday.

According to the provincial government, the Annual Grapes Festival was inaugurated by the provincial governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi and Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock Minister Nasir Ahmad Durani.
The local officials are saying that a major agricultural exhibition has also been organized on the sidelines of the Annual Grapes Festival.
The provincial agriculture, irrigation, and livestock directorate says the agricultural products of Kandahar, Helmand, Herat, Balkh and Badghis provinces as well as Jalalabad city have been put on display in 54 booths.
The governor of Herat Mohammad Asif Rahimi said around 130,000 tons of grapes will be harvested from the grapes gardens in Herat province this year despite the country faced issues of drought and other problems.
He also added that a contract has been signed nearly a month ago for the export of 7 thousand tons of grapes to the regional countries.
Rahimi further added that the government is also working to expand the production and export of raisins and necessary steps have been taken in this regard which include the construction of 150 stores.