Afghanistan's Saffron Exports Top $30 Million In Nine Months

Herat's Chamber of Commerce and Investment says Afghanistan has exported more than 30 million dollars' worth of saffron to international markets over the past nine months, with the total shipment volume recorded at 22.13 tonnes.

According to the Afghanistan Saffron Producers Union, last year's output stood at 35 tonnes, with around 9,000 hectares of land dedicated to the crop, reflecting a notable year-on-year growth despite ongoing economic and political constraints.

Officials say Europe, the United States, Arab countries, and markets across East and South Asia were the main destinations for the spice. Afghanistan saffron has long enjoyed a strong reputation abroad for its distinctive aroma and high quality.

Mohammad Yousuf Amin, the chamber's executive director, told the state-run Bakhtar agency that Herat alone is estimated to have produced around 40 tonnes of saffron this year, and processing and packaging work is still under way.

Herat remains the heart of Afghanistan's saffron industry, producing about 95 percent of the national output. The province has earned global recognition for its premium-grade saffron, winning several international quality awards in recent years.

The Taliban's Ministry of Agriculture said earlier this month that saffron was cultivated on 12,000 hectares nationwide this year, resulting in an estimated 41 tonnes of production.

Sadr Azam Osmani, the ministry's deputy, noted at the 10th Herat Saffron Flower Festival that this represents an increase compared with recent years, pointing to improved farming techniques and expanded cultivation areas.

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