MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Over 600,000 tonnes of licorice --- sweet, chewy, aromatic black substance --- have been exported to foreign countries from Balkh province showing a 50 percent increase compared to the past year, an official said on Tuesday.
Asadullah Asadi, head of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), said in the first eight months of this year, 626,000 tonns of licorice were exported from Balkh to China, the United States, Central Asia, and a number of European countries.
He added that in the first eight months of 1402, the export volume of licorice reached 42,700 tonns, and this year there has been an increase of about 50 percent in exports.
Licorice is a mountain plant that is used to make medicine, food, and energy drinks, and is also found in some southern provinces, including the northern provinces.
Businessmen involved in the trade of licorice have been happy about their business and stressed about more support from government.
Fida Mohammad, one of the businessmen, said if the government provided support they could generate work opportunities for people besides further increase in the export level.
Abdul Razzaq, another businessman, said besides the export of licorice, the government should generate opportunities for the domestic use and processing of this plant.
“If there is no demand from foreign countries, people here burn it like firewood because there are no standard pharmaceutical factories in the country that can process it and make medicine from it,” he said.
Licorice is not only is it exported to foreign countries, but health professionals also consider it useful for treating certain diseases.
Shabir Ahmad, an internal disease physician in Balkh, said Licorice used in traditional medicine to strengthen the digestive system, relieve constipation and bladder disorders, treat skin, heart diseases, and other similar ailments.
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