Knadahar gardeners seek govt’s help to export grapes

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Happy with the yield of grapes this year, farmers in southern Kandahar province urge the government to help them export their produce aboard.

Pakistan has been a great market for exporting fresh fruits but the country has recently increased taxes in this regard.

However, this year the yield increased several times following growers’ efforts and hard work which had a positive impact on the production of fruits.

Nazar Gul, a farmer from Zairai area of Kandahar City, the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News growers were happy with grape yield as their production had increased this year.

He said, “Farmers efforts gave positive result as their crops increased with good quality.”

However, he said growers were concerned about exporting their grapes aboard.

He added Pakistan recently increased levy on grapes affecting both growers and traders.

According to him, Pakistan always created problems during fruits season in Afghanistan and sometimes blocked trucks.

Haji Aziz, another fresh fruits trader, told Pajhwok traders were forced to sell grapes inside the country after Pakistan increased tax on their export. 

Pakistan increased the tax at a time when people recently started harvesting grapes in the province.

Kandahar fresh fruits association head Haji Nani Agha,  also urged the government to address their concerns soon.

Over the past few days, grape exports to Pakistan have been stopped after Pakistan increased tax, he added.

A number of other growers and traders expressed similar views and urged the government to find an urgent solution to the issue.

pk/ma