Kandahar Traders Urge Govt Expand Raisin Exports

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): The Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock in Kandahar has estimated grape production in the southern province at 205,000 tonnes this year, with half expected to be converted into raisins.

Traders, however, are calling on the government and the Chamber of Commerce to help secure access to international markets for the dried fruit.

Grape orchards in Kandahar cover more than 20,000 hectares, including both long-established and newly planted areas.

Agriculture specialist Aimal Hakimi told Pajhwok Afghan News that orchards in Arghandab, Daman, Dand, Shawalikot, Khakrez, Panjwayi, Zherai, Maroof and Miyanshin districts had produced a bumper harvest this year, resulting in a higher yield of quality raisins.

He said the province's grape harvest was estimated at 205,000 tonnes, with about 50 percent expected to be dried and processed into raisins.

Last year, production stood at 195,000 tonnes, but pests had affected the crop and reduced its quality.

Hakimi added that this year's harvest was far better, with both quantity and quality showing significant improvement.

Traders stress the need for access to foreign markets

Gran Mohammad, a raisin trader in the province, told Pajhwok that a kilogram of quality raisins currently sells for between 200 and 250 afghanis, with prices expected to rise.

“This year our raisins are excellent. Prices are still low, but once harvesting is complete, they will certainly go up because the quality is very high,” he said.

Another trader, Mohammad Dawood, noted:“Almost half of Kandahar's grapes are turned into raisins. Without access to foreign markets, domestic prices remain depressed. We hope international markets can be secured so our raisins fetch better prices, as they are among the most flavoursome in the world.”

Mohammadullah, a worker at a raisin-processing facility in Panjwayi district, added:“Since the grape crop was good this year, the raisins are of fine quality too. Prices are low at the start of the season, but we expect them to increase.”

Traders in Kandahar urged the government and relevant authorities to create opportunities for raisin exports, saying this would benefit both farmers and businessmen by improving their economic conditions.

They emphasised that Afghanistan is one of the world's leading producers of high-quality raisins and that access to international markets could generate substantial revenue.

Trader Abdul Samad said:“We can export raisins abroad with excellent quality and packaging, but it is up to the government and the Chamber of Commerce to pave the way for exports, as this is beyond our capacity.”

Meanwhile, Abdul Baqi Bina, deputy head of the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce, blamed delays in exports on tensions between India and Pakistan.

He said efforts were underway to resolve these challenges or to find alternative routes.

“The delay in raisin exports is due to ongoing problems between India and Pakistan, which have disrupted Afghanistan's dried fruit exports. In coordination with the government, we are trying to export via Iran or other alternative routes,” he explained.

Kandahar farmers and traders believe that facilitating raisin exports will not only boost prices but also create a major economic opportunity for the country.

kk/sa

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