KABUL: (MEP) – Simultaneous with the arrival of summer and harvesting of fresh fruit, the authorities of Export Promotion Administration of Afghanistan say that the export of fresh fruit has increased. Head of Export Promotion Administration of Afghanistan Sayed Azam Mustafa Hashemi said that at the beginning of summer of last year, the export of fresh fruit of Afghanistan to abroad had reached to about 4000 tones, but this year figure has been increased to over 6000 tones. He added that one of the reasons behind increase in quantity of export of fresh fruit is the rainfalls of last year.
Head of Export Promotion Administration of Afghanistan said during first quarter of last year, we exported about 4000 tones fresh fruit to overseas, but at the same time of current year, we are the witness of export of over 6000 tones fruit to abroad. Because, the fruit of Afghanistan has good market, but because of existence of Impracticable transit routes, we only offer our fruit to Pakistan’s market. Hashemi continued the rainfalls during last year and providing facilities for horticulturists are the main reasons behind increment in the quantity of fruit in the country. According to the above mentioned administration, now, pomegranate is exported to Japan, grape and melon to India, United Arab Emirate and central Asia. The in charges of this administration say that transport problems, lack of spring houses for protection of fruit and high levy are the main problems the exporters of fruit faced them. At the same time, a number of fresh fruit dealers in Kabul city are optimist about the increment of the yields of fresh fruit and ask for its exporting to abroad. One of fruit dealers in Aasmiae Street, Wahidullah said in the connection that fortunately, recently, huge quantity of fresh fruit is available in domestic markets and its marketing is satisfactorily. The government should prevent from import of similar fruit from abroad so our own fruits are offered to the market. He added that the fruit of Afghanistan has its own taste and is ripping naturally. But unfortunately, those fruits imported from abroad have no such specially and are ripping unnaturally. So, the Afghan fruits have world fame. So, the fruit exporter union while expressing it concern over problems faced during export say that comparing last year, their work is good. They add that over 80 percent of their fruits are exported to Pakistan. This year, we are optimists more that the fruit and vegetable of Afghanistan have increased considerably and we are expecting that this year, the exports of fruit of Afghanistan be well. At the same time, a number of our people while are optimists about the export of fruit of Afghanistan to abroad, say that despite abundant of fruits in the country, unfortunately its price is high in Kabul city markets and fruit dealers themselves fix the price rate. One of Kabul citizens Shir Aqa said in this respect that the government should control the market. Because purchasing of fruit with high rate by those who have low income, is difficult. This is in a time that during recent years, because of government and related in charges attention and providing facilities for horticulturists in different parts of country, fortunately, the yields of fresh fruits and other agricultural products have been increased. These products not only have good markets inside the country, but, these products have good markets in abroad as well, BNA reported.
