EDEN Incubators Presents “Projects that Transform the World”

Passage to Japan: Creating an Agricultural Corridor from Afghanistan

On Friday, June 25th, The EDEN Seminars partnered with Shizenkan University to welcome its latest EDEN Incubators to the online “stage” in an illuminating discussion about their joint project, which aims to elevate Afghanis out of poverty, establish stronger ties between Japan and Afghanistan, and promote peace in the region through the conception of an agricultural air corridor.

The session began with a warm welcome from EDEN Core Member and Co-founder, Prof. Monte Cassim, President of Akita International University, who acted as the event moderator. He proceeded by introducing the Guest of Honor, His Excellency the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Japan, Dr. Shaida Abdali. Ambassador Abdali gave a stirring speech about the situation in Afghanistan and how projects such as this by bright, motivated young people as well as other EDEN affiliates can do much good for Afghan society, in spite of the many current challenges facing the country.

After the Ambassador’s remarks, Prof. Cassim welcomed the first Incubator, Mr. Abdul Hashimi, who was the mastermind behind the “Air Corridor” project. Mr. Hashimi showed the audience in great detail through his presentation how he aimed to stimulate econmonic growth and job creation in Afghanistan through creating an inclusive economy that could improve the wellbeing of his fellow countrymen.

He then introduced his project partner, Ms. Chihiro Eikyu, who would be handling the Japanese side of their project through her trading startup, Peace Trading, which would import Afghanistan products like saffron and pomegranates to the Japanese market.

Next, the Q&A with audience participation was initiated by the evening’s Chair and EDEN Core Member and Co-founder, Dr. Nassrine Azimi, Founder of the AFLP Botanical Garden’s Network (BGNet) project. Dr. Azimi quickly introduced former classmate of the Incubators and guest discussant, Mr. Tomotaka Ikeda, Vice-President of Investment Banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd, who lended his financial expertise and discussed the feasibility of their joint venture. This kickstarted many questions from the audience, which the Incubators took in turn answering until the event time drew to a close. So many questions were asked that the presenters could not get to everything during the limited one and a half hour long engagment, so they have written up their responses to some of the remaining questions, which you can find at the bottom of this page.

The EDEN Seminars team and network are very proud of these young people’s innovative project to transform the world into a more inclusive one, highlighting our core values of sustainability and reciprocity. We look forward to following the growth of their project, both its challenges and successes, over the coming years and will document it here on edenseminars.org, so stay tuned for future updates. In the meantime, you may watch the full webinar recording as well as read the event program, Incubator profiles, project summary, and more below.

If you are interested in supporting the Air Corridor to Afghanistan project, you may contact these two Incubators at the email addresses below.

Mr Abdul Hashimi: hashimi.abd@shizenkan.ac.jp Ms. Chihiro Eikyu: eikyu.chi@shizenkan.ac.jp

Event Program

Watch the full length webinar below.

UPDATED: Incubators’ Responses to Unanswered Questions from the Q&A

Thank you for the nice presentations. I was wondering about the impact of the saffron project. What is the average yield of saffron per hectare in Afghanistan? What is the average farmer population per hectare in Afghanistan? Have you survey the level of the willingness to switch from Opium to Saffron production? Of course same questions could be asked for Pomegranate too. - Mahmood Rahimian

Mr. Hashimi’s Response:

Thank you for the question!

1. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock the average yield of saffron in 2019 was around 2.5Kg per hectare.

2. I don’t have this data due to lack of sources in Afghanistan, but in 2019 the total workforce on saffron cultivation was around 30,000 people with the total area of 7469 hectares.

3. It is difficult to answer this question with numbers, but undoubtedly increase in saffron export would have direct impact on farmers, when the exports increased, farmers need to increase production volume as a result, they can make more money, more people will hire on farms and poverty would decrease and most of the people will switch from opium to saffron because there is no reason for them cultivate illegal  products, saffron need less water and price is high, so we should find market for them to sell the products.

I am curious to know the impacts of COVID-19 in Afghanistan especially among those farmers you are planning to work together in your business. - Shogo

Mr. Hashimi’s Response:

Thank you very much for the question. Of course, COVID-19 has affected each sector, especially the agricultural sector, but I believe this problem will solve soon or latter, we cannot stop because of this reason.

My suggestion is to focus on products that have a high unit price and low weight to be cost effective. Pomegranate would be a challenge. Secondly, are you planning to export in lose form or finished packed product? - Najeeb Ahmadzai

Ms. Chihiro Eikyu’s Response:  

I also plan to start with products that have a high unit price and low weight in order to improve cost efficiency. For example, I am thinking of cosmetics, soaps, and teas as luxury products.

Since packaging and other aspects of the products are important to lower import costs and for branding strategies to create a sense of luxury, I plan to import these products in raw form and do the packing and commercialization in Japan.

I find it inspiring how Shizenkan Alumni are collaborating for this goal. Moving forward, question for Hashimi, have you find producers of Saffron in Afghanistan already? And for Chihiro, have you already in talk with Japanese cosmetics company? - Brainard Nolledo

Ms. Chihiro Eikyu’s Response:

I have no plans to use Japanese cosmetic companies at this time. We are planning to work with a cosmetics OEM company to create our own brand. 

Mr. Abdul Hashimi’s Response:

Thank you for the question, I have talked with farmers in Herat province regarding the saffron, but I haven’t made decision to contract with them to export to Japan. Once I return to Afghanistan, I will talk with producers based on their production’s quality.

A wonderful idea with high potential, and nicely presented. I want to know what is the demand in Japan, your revenue model, and sustainability plan? - Shams

 Ms. Chihiro Eikyu’s Response:

Japanese people are becoming more and more health＆ beauty conscious every year. Also, the habit of paying for quality products has already been built. Saffron has a lot of beauty and health benefits, so if we can create a good product and brand it, I think there will be a demand in the Japanese market.

A sales model is currently being developed.

As for sustainability, we believe that by growing this business, we can contribute to multiple SDGs, such as providing jobs to many women in Afghanistan.

Why did you conduct the survey with high school students in Yamanashi and Tochigi? They may not be the main customers of Saffron. - Yoshitaka Kumagai

 Mr. Abdul Hashimi’s Response:

Good question: actually I did not conduct this survey, last year I shared my vision with my friend who is a professor at Yamanashi Prefectural University, then he conducted this survey to support my project. Though high school students could not be good targets for this survey, it could be good in terms of reaching the Japanese young generation, as I am looking for long term trade between Afghanistan and Japan.

I will prefer to make a team of volunteers, I can devote my time l, it has huge details since I have worked on exporting saffron and cumin to US. So we can share lots of ideas! - Najeeb Ahmadzai

  Mr. Abdul Hashimi’s Response:

Dear Mr. Najeeb Ahmadzai, thank you for your comment and your cooperation, we need your support and I am very happy that you already have experience in this regard. Soon I will contact you to talk more and to move forward.

The government of Afghanistan is providing incentives for farmers to grow saffron and for this reason it has been replaced with the opium poppy. If we check the level of poppy has been cultivated during the era of Taliban, it covered 73000 hacars land, but now it is just 21000 hectors. - Sabahuddin Sakout

Mr. Abdul Hashimi’s Response:

You are right Mr. Sabahuddin, Unfortunately the cultivation of opium announced legal with Taliban regime and it the reason which Afghanistan became the biggest producer of opium in the world, but luckily, now the opium is getting replace by saffron.

I was wondering if the Afghanistan Embassy offers some advice or guidance for people who want to import Afghanistan products (in our case honey) here in Japan?    - Ata Paykar

Mr. Abdul Hashimi’s Response:

Of course the Embassy always encourage and support those who wants to trade with Japan, and we will be happy if Afghan can export honey to Japan.

Are you going to apply for Japanese Organic certification: ”JAS”? - Faezeh Mahichi

 Ms. Chihiro Eikyu’s Response:

Yes, I am going to apply for "JAS". Quality assurance and trust are very important to sell in the Japanese market.

We have saffron production initiated by Aga Khan Foundation in Bamyan Province. is it possible to involve the saffron association and groups from Bamyan as well? - Zakir Hussain Hassanzada

 Mr. Abdul Hashimi’s Response:

Thank you for sharing that. The purpose of this project is to create jobs and to support Afghan farmers. Therefore, we can involve farmers from across the country, and, of course, the quality is important for us.

 - Fin -