Dried Fruit Traders in Zabul Raise Concerns Over Export Challenges

Traders in Zabul, during the opening of a commercial center worth 18 million afghani in the province, called on the government to help them find suitable international markets for exporting dried fruits.

Dried fruit traders in the province say they could face significant financial losses if greater export opportunities are not provided.

Ghulam Mohammad, a dried fruit trader in Zabul, said: “Nine containers of my goods were recently turned back from China and sent back to Bandar Abbas, resulting in significant costs. I was fined $50,000 alone, and I had borrowed the money. There are no markets, and our goods are not being exported to India, Pakistan or Kazakhstan.”

Aminullah Tokhi, another dried fruit trader, said: “We call on the Islamic Emirate to pay special attention to traders in Shah Joy because it is a densely populated district. Markets should be found for us.”

Meanwhile, the head of Zabul’s Industry and Commerce Department says efforts have been launched, with the support of the Economic Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, to expand trade with several regional countries, including Uzbekistan.

Hekmatullah Mansour, head of Zabul’s Industry and Commerce Department, said: “Zabul is an agricultural province, and we have developed some plans for it. Some time ago, we sent traders to an international exhibition in Uzbekistan, and we have also repeatedly contacted the Economic Deputy Prime Minister’s Office on this issue.”

Last year, around 3,500 metric tons of figs, almonds, dried apricots and raisins worth approximately $15 million were exported from Zabul.

However, delegations from Türkiye and China visiting Zabul this year asked farmers not to use chemicals when processing dried fruits, saying they only purchase products that have been dried naturally.