Monitoring Desk
KANDAHAR CITY: Dried and fresh fruits weighing 168,000 tons worth $198 million have so far been exported abroad from southern Kandahar province this year, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) said. CCI head Haji NasrullahZaheer during an exclusive interview told Pajhwok Afghan News the export of fresh and dry fruits from Kandahar surged this year, compared to last year and the upward trend would continue in the years to come.
“Seventy-two million tons of fresh fruits worth $17 million and 37,000 tons of dry fruits worth $142 million and 10,000 tons of herbals worth $15 million have been exported from Kandahar so far this year,” he said. He said the exports included grapes, pomegranates, melon and others in fresh fruits different kinds of raisins, figs, pistachio, walnuts and other dried fruits were among the exports besides different types of herbals.
Most of the exports go to Pakistan and India while a small portion of Arab countries and Europe. Referring to challenges exporters face, Haji Zaheer said this year Pakistan increased duty on dry fruit exports, which affected farmers. He added the export of fresh fruits had ended while of dry fruit might continue until the end of the ongoing year.
Zaheer said more attention to professional farming, provision of electricity and construction of cold stores could help surge yield as well as export. He said due to lack of these facilities, every year a large number of fresh fruits was wasted or sold at a low price. He also recalled that a large amount of Kandahar fresh fruits was sold under Pakistani or Indian label.
Zaheer said if Afghan traders were provided with aerial or land access to international markets, they would be able to sell their products under their own label. Qudratullah, a fig farm owner on Shah Walikot district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that due to insecurity and conflict the government did not pay attention to the development of the agriculture sector.
He said farm owners looked after their fruit trees the entire year but risked their lives by harvesting the fruits due to insecurity. He demanded the government ensure security, provide facilities, introduce professional methods of growing and construct cold stores.
Haji Hayatullah, a dried fruits businessman, said air corridors were a huge development for exports and could prove more effective if the process continued uninterrupted. He said businessmen were hopeful air corridors would be opened with the US and European countries. He, however, stressed the government should concentrate on land routes to connect Afghanistan with international markets.(Pajhwok)
