KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Pine nuts yield in southeastern Khost province has been estimated 3,500 tonnes this year showing an increase compared to the past year, an official said on Thursday.
Pine nuts traders said that last year pine nuts yield was decreased because there were no efficient rains but this year there was increase in its yield.
They asked government to provide them with an opportunity to export their products to Chin and other countries.
In addition, they said if the pine nuts process and packing facilities provided at home their income would be doubled.
Mukamil, one of the pine nuts businessmen, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “When we take pine nuts from Afghanistan to China it has huge profit but now our profit is low because Chinese businessmen take pine nuts themselves and they benefit the most.”
Nasir Khan, another businessman, said: “Chinese businessmen come here, we need to deliver pine nuts ourselves there and government should generate this opportunity for us, Chinese came here this year and they even traveled to the pine nuts trees mountains.”
They asked officials that like other businesses the pine nuts transactions should be carried out with Afghani currency.
Hakim Zadran, another businessman, said: “All pine nuts are sold by Pakistani rupee which lost its value against Dollar and Afghani, we want the pine nuts should be sold at Afghani because it is our own currency.”
According to reports, last year, over 2,500 tonnes of pine nuts at the cost of 27 million afs exported to China, India, Pakistan, United States of America and the United Arab Emirate.
Officials of the Pine Nuts Union in southern Khost province said according to their estimation 3,500 tonnes of pine nuts would be harvested in Khost this year.
Haji Sahil Khan, deputy head of the Pine Nuts Union, said: “When there is a lot of rain, then the fruit trees give good yields, especially pine nuts, so this year the yield of pine nut is very good, and we believe that the next year will be even better”.
He said according to their estimation this year 3,500 tonnes of pine nuts would be harvested.
Some local officials assured to address the pine nut traders issues and they were in contact with the central government to address these issues.
Mustaghfar Gurbaz, the provincial government spokesperson, said the provincial government has shared the problems faced by the pine nuts traders.
Pine nuts are Afghanistan’s precious fruit which has a high demand in the world special China.
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