Kandahar grape growers, traders face losses as exports remain halted — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Grape production in southern Kandahar province is estimated at more than 225,000 tonnes this year. However, due to the closure and restrictions on export routes, no grapes have so far been exported from the province to foreign markets. As a result, prices have fallen, leaving growers and traders facing losses. Trade and export routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained closed for more than 10 months due to recent tensions between the two countries. Kandahar is one of Afghanistan’s major grape-producing provinces, with tens of thousands of tonnes of grapes exported each year to Pakistan, India and some other countries. However, exports have stopped this year, leaving most of the produce to be sold in domestic markets. Eng. Abdul Baqi Bina, deputy head of the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said Kandahar’s grapes had not yet been exported to foreign markets due to problems with export routes. He said grapes are among fruits with a short shelf life and cannot withstand transportation over long distances. “Grapes were previously exported mainly to Pakistan, but that route is now closed. When suitable and shorter export routes are not available, traders cannot transport the fruit to foreign markets,” he said. Bina said that although orchards in Daman, Zhari and some other areas of Kandahar were damaged by hail earlier this…