Pakistani fish occupies Kunduz market: Local farm owners

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Fish farms owners in northern Kunduz province are complaining that fish imported from Pakistani has hit hard their business and caused them financial losses.

Mohammadullah Sphonkai, head of the Fish Farms Union, told Pajhwok Afghan News that there were 130 fish farms in Kunduz, in which 95 million afghanis had been invested.

“Our first problem is lack of market, the second problem is the imported fish which is sold cheaply and that has harmed the market of locally produced fish,” he said.

He asked the government to increase duty on imported fish so that the locally produced fish could earn market.

Shafiqullah, a farm owner in Sher Khan Port area, said fish farming was a profitable business.

“It is a profitable business, but there is no market. Pakistani fish has occupied the market. The government should resolve this problem,” he said.

Abdul Rauf, another fish farm owner in Chahardara district, said he had established his fish farm in half an acre of land.

“I have 2,000 fishes in the farm which will be ready for purchase in 18 months. One fish gets four kilograms weight during this period but we don’t have market and cannot compete with Pakistani fish. They sell them very cheaply and if we sell them at their price, we will suffer 200 afghanis losses in one kilogram,” he said.

Fish farm owners demanded the government should cooperate with them in market exploration and stop the import of Pakistani one.

Masoud Wahdat, member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that there was no proper market for fish in the province.

“Fish farm owners have invested their capital in the business and the government should support them by exploring market for their product, otherwise these farms would be closed one by one,” he said.

Agriculture Department Deputy Head HaleemJalili said a formal letter had been dispatched to the ministry concerned regarding improvement of fish farming business and exploration of market.

“Regarding their water issue and market problem we have talked to authorities in the centre and they have promised to resolve them,” he said.

Nh/ma

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