<p>SHARANA (Pajhwok): Southeastern Paktika province produced more than 14,000 tons of pine nut this year, an official said on Monday.</p>
<p>Paktika <a href="/en/agriculture" class="glossify-link">Agriculture</a> Director Abubakar Sediqi told Pajhwok Afghan News the pine nut yield was record high this season compared to the past six years.</p>
<p>He said 6,000 tons of pine nut was produced last year but the yield increased to 14,000 this year across the province.</p>
<p>He added people now paid more attention to pine nut harvests after it import started to neighboring China.</p>
<p>The agriculture director said around 30,000 metric tons of pine nut worth hundreds of millions of dollars were exported to China last year.</p>
<p>Aziz Aziz, a member of the provincial council, told Pajhwok pine nut yield increased this year and the government should find market for the dried fruit.</p>
<p>He urged the government to create processing centers for the pine nut in the province.</p>
<p>Izzatullah, a trader of the pine nut, was happy with the nut yields this year in the province.</p>
<p>He said the import of pine nut was delayed to China last year due to Covid-19, but the government should facilitate the import of pine nut to foreign countries besides China.</p>
<p>Ulfat Kharoti, a resident of the Sarobi district, told Pajhwok so far foreign and domestic traders had not visited them to buy pine nut due to coronavirus.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, agriculture department officials said efforts were underway to find domestic and foreign market for the pine nut this year.</p>
<p>Pk/ma</p>
