Falling prices frustrate asafoetida farmers, traders in Balkh

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): A number of farmers in northern Balkh province have voiced deep concern over a sharp decline in the prices of asafoetida plant and resins, urging the government to assist them in finding better markets for their products.

Mohammad Baqir, a farmer from Sholgara district, said he planted 50 kilograms of asafoetida seeds on his land last year, purchasing each kilogram for 15,000 afghanis.

“At that time, each plant was valued at 10 afghanis, but now, several plants are sold for just one afghani,” he lamented.

Similarly, Abdullah, a farmer from the Omar Farooq area of Mazar-i-Sharif, said that many farmers had recently switched to asafoetida cultivation.

He explained some even sold household items to invest in the crop, expecting high profits.

However, this year, the prices of both the plants and resin fell dramatically, leaving farmers in a dire financial situation.

At the same time, traders in the province are also concerned about the steep drop in asafoetida prices.

Jan Gul Khyber, a trader, said the price of asafoetida and its resin had dropped significantly compared to last year.

“In previous years, the price of a kilogram of asafoetida resin hovered between 5,000 and 30,000 afghanis, but this year, the price has dropped to just 3,000 afghanis,” he explained, urging the government to help them find better market for the product.

Meanwhile, Feroz Sadri, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, attributed the price decline to overproduction in the province.

According to him, India was the only major international market for asafoetida resin, with an annual demand of about 1,000 tonnes.

However, excessive cultivation in Afghanistan, particularly in Balkh, has led to a market surplus, causing prices to plummet, he added.

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), told Pajhwok that in the past 10 months, Afghanistan exported 1,195 tonnes of asafoetida worth 111 million US dollars to international markets.

He said the exports were made to Uzbekistan, Iran, India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the Balkh Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, about 500 hectares of land are currently under asafoetida cultivation in Sholgara, Balkh, Dehdadi, Nahr-i-Shahi, Dawlatabad, Chahar Bolak, and Chamtal districts.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s largest asafoetida producers, alongside Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan.

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