Khost pine nut traders seek export, processing facilities — Pajhwok

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): The pine nut harvest has increased in the southeastern provinces of Khost, Paktia and Paktika this year, but restrictions on exports to international markets and a lack of processing and packaging facilities have caused difficulties and losses. Pine nut traders in Khost have called for improved facilities to address these challenges. Baloch Zadran, an official at the Khost pine nut market, said the harvest across the three provinces had increased significantly compared with last year. “The difference is that pine nut yields were low in previous years, but it rained this year. Thanks to the rainfall, the harvest has increased. Pine nuts are abundant everywhere and the yield has been very good,” he said. Khan Wali, a pine nut trader, told Pajhwok Afghan News that demand for Afghan pine nuts was high in international markets and prices were favourable. However, reliance on a single export market had increased traders’ concerns. Zadran added: “We ask the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to open up routes for us. At present, when we export pine nuts to China, traders there buy them at low prices on their own terms. If routes to other countries in the region are also made easier, our business will progress better.” Another trader, Qadir Jan, said: “We want the routes to be opened so that…