Photo source : TasteAtlas
Taliban regime supports Afghan grape growers, prompting resume of table grape exports during peak season
Afghanistan’s fresh produce industry has been put into a period of uncertainty due to the sudden change in government this summer, sparked by the Taliban taking control.
There were widespread concerns about what the future of Afghanistan’s fresh produce industry under Taliban rule would be as exporters searched for immediate solutions to no flights and closed air corridors.
As the new government took power, Afghan trade resumed slowly. As the volume of existing production increases and farmers and exporters need to earn a living, the export of fresh fruits is beginning to grow.
There are currently no flights available this year, so exporters are forced to use land routes to ship their products.
In a statement issued yesterday, the new Taliban regime reaffirmed its support for Afghan exporters. In fact, they are determined to boost Afghanistan’s economy through trade, which includes exports of fresh produce.
In addition to lifting export obstacles, importing countries are said to have resolved their documentation and customs issues with Afghan exports.
Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), with its official government offices, has reinstated land exports.
A fleet of refrigerated trucks powered by Mobin Afghan will export an additional 35 tonnes of grapes via air routes to India in the next two weeks.
Owner Muhiuddin, of Mobin Afghan, said peak harvest is near. “We have a great harvest this year and now with no problems, business is good with the support of ACCI and customs.”
According to reports, a senior Taliban leader called on investors and businesses to expand in Afghanistan. He said, as far as investment and trading go, the situation in Afghanistan now is the best it has ever been for investing and trading.
Taxes on food ingredients have been halved by Taliban officials, and other taxes on the exports and imports of Afghan traders have been dramatically reduced as well.
In spite of poor rains during the key growing season this year, Afghanistan has harvested more fresh fruit than it ever has before.
A second Afghan fresh fruit exporter company, Noorullah S/O Khan, has loaded trucks of grapes for export. Now that trade routes have become clearer, other companies are preparing to export this year’s harvest as it ripens, with a growing demand from Pakistan and India.
