Pine nut price reduced by half this year, say Paktia residents

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Pine nut traders say price of the dried fruit has reduced by a half compared last year when the dried fruit was exported to China and other countries through air corridors.

They say this year pine nut could not be exported to foreign countries following the collapse of the previous regime.

There are forests of pine nuts in Paktia’s Zazi Aryub, Chamkani, Janikhel and other districts and the economy of most of local residents rely on the dried fruit’s sale.

Dena Gul, a resident of Zazi Aryub district, said it was harvest season but traders offered a reduced price for purchasing the fruit.

He said a kilogram of pine nut was sold for 2500 afghanis last year while this year’s price was 1250afs. “Our demand from the government is that it should find market for pine nut in foreign countries.”

Pine nut traders say if the dried fruit could not be exported to foreign countries, its smuggling to neighbouring countries would once again resume.

A trader in Chamkani district, Haji Mirwais, said: “A few years ago, pine nut was smuggled to Pakistan and the same was sold in foreign countries as Pakistani product. But after the opening of air corridors, its smuggling to Pakistan stopped and its prices increased.”

He asked the government to pay serious attention to problems being faced by traders. He said Afghanistan’s pine nut has good reputation in the world and it would benefit traders if air corridors were activated again.

Fazluddin Jalalzai, director of the Paktia Chamber of Commerce and Industries, also acknowledged that the price of pine nut had dropped by half compared to last year.

"Last year, the fruit was exported to China and other countries by air, but this year the process has stalled due to the political situation and road closures," he said.

He said the price of a kilogram of pine nut was above 5000 afghanis abroad, which benefitted the traders. He said currently pine nut was being smuggled to Pakistan and from there offered to foreign market as Pakistani product.

He said they were making efforts to find a solution to the problem but the situation remained relied on the country’s politics.

Officials say 30000 tons of pine nut is produced in Paktia province each year. If the dried fruit is exported abroad, it would benefit local residents and traders.