In Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, fresh fruit businessmen expecta higher grape harvest this year and are hoping to export 40,000 tonnes of the fruit.
Around 50 tonnes of the fruit are exported to Pakistan from Kandahar on a daily basis, Haji Nanai Agha, Fresh Fruit Dealers Association (FFDA) head, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said currently 50 tonnes of grapes were being exported to Pakistan and the quantity could jump to 150 tonnes within a few days when the harvest season reaches its peak. He believed there may be over 20,000 tonnes of grape exports this year.
Fresh fruits are largely exported through Pakistan, but traders expect a new export opportunity with the launch of trade activities at Chabahar Port.
Afghan merchants have to rely heavily on Pakistan, for exports as they have limited port facilities in the country. The FFDA head, revealed that 20,000 tonnes of grape exports were registered while 20,000 tonnes went abroad without registration. He put the value of the total exports at $10 million.
Pakistan has often created huge hurdles for Afghan exporters, inflicting huge losses on them, Agha alleged.
