Raisin worth $96m exported from Kandahar last year

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): The Chamber of Commerce and Industries in southern Kandahar province says 29000 tons of raisins worth $96 million were exported from the province last solar year.

Engineer Abdul Baqi Bina, deputy head of the province’s chamber of commerce, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the quality of dried fruits in Kandahar was good last solar year and demand was high abroad.

He said the raisins exported this year showed an increase of 2000 tons in weight and $16 million in value.

According to Bina, the bulk of the raisins was exported to India, Pakistan and a small amount to other countries.

Dried fruit traders also say due to the increase in raisin exports, its prices at home have risen.

Haji Azizullah, a raisin trader, told Pajhwok Afghan News that one of the reasons for the increase in raisin exports from Kandahar to India and Pakistan was that Iranian raisins had not been exported to these countries this year.

“Currently the price of 4.5kg of raisin hovers between 1000 and 1100 afghanis.”

“This year the quality of raisin was very good and its demand was high outside the country. I also export raisin to Pakistan where Iranian raisin was not exported much this year, so the demand for our raisin was high,” he explained.

Another raisin trader, Haji Raz Mohammad, said the value of dried fruits would further increase if problems on the roads were addressed and agreements were signed with foreign countries in this regard.

“Apart from raisins, other dried fruits were also good this year and their value high, but problems on the roads remain.”

“This year has been good in terms of exports, as the raisins had almost finished with traders. Our demand is that the government should enter agreements with the international community to increase the export of dried fruits.”

Orchards’ owners in Kandahar are happy with the harvest of grapes and production of raisin, saying compared to last year, the quality of grapes was good and therefore the quality of raisin was also good.

Tajuddin, a gardener and raisin trader from Panjwai district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that although there had been fighting in many parts of the country last year and people could not come to their orchards, the quality of grapes and raisins was good.

He said with the appreciation of the afghani, the price of raisin had decreased a bit and one kilogram of low quality raisin was sold for 200 afghanis.

However, this year due to drought and winds the grape orchards have been affected and the yield is expected to be low.

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