Over $10.5M Pomegranates Exported From Kandahar This Year

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Chamber of Commerce officials say more than 23,000 tonnes of pomegranates, worth 10.56 million US dollars, have been exported from southern Kandahar province to various countries so far this year.

Engineer Abdul Baqi Bina, deputy head of the chamber, told Pajhwok Afghan News that although Pakistan closed its crossings shortly after the start of the pomegranate export season, large quantities were still exported to Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and several other countries.

He said that pomegranate juice factories have recently been established inside the country, increasing domestic processing and consumption.

“So far this year, nearly 23,000 tonnes of pomegranates have been exported from Kandahar. Before the closure of the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing, significant quantities were exported to Pakistan, and afterwards to India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the UAE, Russia and some other neighbouring countries,” he added.

Bina expressed hope that in the coming years Afghanistan will continue exporting pomegranates to a wider range of markets beyond Pakistan, while domestic processing capacity will also expand.

He urged citizens to use Afghan pomegranates and other local fruits at wedding halls and other ceremonies instead of imported fruits, so that the benefits could reach local farmers and related workers.

Fresh fruit traders in Kandahar say although the Pakistan route is shorter, Islamabad frequently creates obstacles for Afghan fruit exports, prompting traders to prefer alternative routes despite lower profits.

Abdul Samad, a pomegranate exporter, said:“We trade with Pakistan based on international norms, but that country never respects any principles. They always create problems for our fruits and close the gates during harvest season. It is better for us to use other routes. Even if Pakistan keeps its gates closed all the time, it will not harm us.”

Another trader, Mohammadullah, remarked:“Pakistan has always acted with duplicity towards Afghans; when Afghan fruits ripen, they block the routes on various pretexts, while their own fruits and transit goods pass through Afghanistan without obstruction.”

Despite the closure of the Spin Boldak crossing, Kandahar pomegranates are currently fetching good prices in the market, with one man (4.5 kg) selling for 200 to 250 afghanis.

hz/ma

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