The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) reported that in the year 1402, the country exported over 2,500 tons of pine nuts, valued at $27 million.
The spokesperson for the ministry, Akhundzada Abdul Salam Javad, said that the largest exports of pine nuts were to China, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
“During the year 1402, the total export of black pine nuts amounted to 2,523 tons, valued at $27 million,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries emphasized the need for more air corridors to increase the export of pine nuts.
“If we establish air cargo facilities that allow us to transport goods to the required countries at reasonable prices, it will generate good revenue and also be beneficial for the Afghan economy,” said Sakhi Ahmad Payman, the first deputy of the Chamber of Industries and Mines.
Afghan pine nuts, known for their superior quality, are in high demand in other countries, including China. However, several farmers have reported that the yield of pine nuts decreased in the year 1402.
The Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock stated that ongoing drought has significantly reduced the yield of pine nuts, posing serious challenges for the farmers.
“Our agriculture is dependent on water, and pine nuts are a very valuable sector, often referred to as ‘black gold.’ It is essential to find good markets for this ‘black gold,’” said Mirwais Hajizadeh, deputy of the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in the solar year 1401, Afghan pine nuts worth $49 million were exported abroad, with the majority of exports going to Pakistan, China, and India.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that compared to the previous year, the amount of pine nuts exports has increased slightly.
The statistics of this ministry show that in the last eight months, $14 million dollars worth of pine nuts have been exported to China, India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and the US.
The spokesperson of this ministry said that they are trying to provide more facilities in the export sector of pine nuts through air corridors and land routes.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the Commerce and Industry spokesman, said: “In the last eight months, the export of pine nuts was worth $14 million dollars, which was mostly exported to China, India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, America, England, Australia, Holland and other countries.”
A number of businessmen said that in order to increase the production of pine nuts outside the country, the Islamic Emirate should address their challenges, and the processing of pine nuts should also be done inside the country.
“We request that the elders of the Islamic Emirate to activate the air corridor as soon as possible so that we can deliver the dried fruit in the right way to the world market on time,” said Zalmay Azimi, a businessman.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that Afghanistan has the capacity to export pine nuts with a higher value of $100 million dollars per year, and attention needs to be paid in this field.
“There is 30,000 tons of annual production capacity and we can produce and process more than 30,000 tons. Currently, we export about five to six thousand tons which are exported to China and some European countries,” said Khan Jan Alokozay, a member of the ACCI’s Board of Directors.—Tolonews
