47,000 tons of pomegranates exported to India, Pakistan

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): So far 47,000 tons of pomegranates worth $25 million have been exported to India and Pakistan from southern Kandahar province during the past one month

Engineer Abdul Baqi Bina, deputy head of the provincial chamber of commerce, told Pajhwok Afghan News although unseasonal rains last year affected orchards, yet the pomegranates yield was satisfactory and prices in local and foreign markets were high.

Bina said: “The fruit’s yield is relatively good this year and its export to India and Pakistan exceeded 47,000 tons worth over $25 million, a process still ongoing”.

He said pomegranates from Kandahar were exported to India and Pakistan by land as right now air corridor facility to export pomegranates did not exist, otherwise its value would have increased.

Provincial Livestock and Agriculture Department estimates the total yield of pomegranates at 170,000 tons for the current year.

Mawlawi Shams Rahman, the agriculture department head, told Pajhwok Afghan News pomegranate orchards covered about 10,000 hectors of land in the province and its yield decreased by 10 percent compared to the previous year.

He said: “The total pomegranate yield is estimated at 170,000 tons for the current year which show a 10% decrease due to drought, untimely rainfall and floods”.

Traders say pomegranate yield is good but pest attacks in some areas affected the yield.

Mohammad Reza, an orchard owner in Arghandab district, said the yield of pomegranates this year was higher than expected keeping in view the drought and untimely rains.

He added: “The rate is good; we select good quality pomegranates for export”.

Laborers working in gardens say there are no wars in the country this year and they are working fearlessly.

Some traders complain about extortions and extensive truck searches and say they are forced to stay for long time at the crossings.

A trader, Haji Raz Mohammad, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We are forced to unload some of our goods in Spin Boldak crossing and we also pay up to 7,000 afs despite our vehicles are delayed. We urge the officials to address this issue”.

But Agriculture Department officials say security forces unload crates for security purpose and they are trying to create a separate route for such vehicles and this will solve the problem.

aw/ma

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