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Fruit crops in Afghanistan are rotting in the sun as businesses struggle to deliver the harvest in response to the country’s economic crisis weeks after the Taliban took power.
Whereas the drug trade and the opium trade are great, Dried and fresh fruits such as grapes and figs are the most exported to Afghanistan. The country produces the most fruits and nuts consumed in Pakistan and India, which account for about 80% of Afghanistan’s exports.
Fruit markets, which follow the old Silk Road from central to southern Asia, show significant concern. Economy in Afghanistan has been persecuted since the Taliban regained power in August.
Many of the wars that the military has fought before they took place took place in the border of the economy in this borderless country, where banks are still in turmoil and strong funds are in short supply. Export restrictions cut off an important source of foreign exchange.
Foreign investors are struggling to make ends meet from rich banks, are unable to pay to foreign buyers and face temporary delays border with Pakistan.
Jalalurahman, a 35-year-old Era Fruits in the southern province of Kandahar, said his recent truckload of figs and raisins trucks took eight days to cross the Wesh-Chaman-Pakistan border, instead of the usual two hours. He has to continue to India by sea.
“There is no white transfer [legal] money in the bank, ”Jalalurahman said. “Half of our money is now closed to banks, and half are returned to our customers in India. . . We also try to export to make a living but there are many problems. ”
He said the only way out could be “secretly” in the area hawala a system, in which unplanned transfers are made through a group of merchants. But its customers are reluctant to use the system, which is illegal in India and Pakistan.
Ahmad Zobair Amiri, a 40-year-old grape and watermelon seller in Kabul, said house prices fell after the economic crisis put small things like fruit for many Afghan people.
Many of his crops rotted during his time at the Torkham border on Pakistan, and he does not have a cool place to keep his fruit fresh.
“Most of our goods were destroyed by the sun because they were temporarily suspended in containers,” he said. “She melts.”
Lots of dried fruit and nuts travel to the Khari Baoli market in the old fortified city of Delhi. Afghanistan is India’s largest dried fruit exporter, accounting for one-third of the $ 500m exported to India.
He is especially needed in preparation for an important Indian festival in Diwali in early November.
Dinesh Chawla, owner of Lahore Dry Fruits in Khari Baoli, buys apricots, almonds, raisins and pistachios in Afghanistan. He also said that their presence had begun to decline after a surprise week after the Taliban’s takeover, which caused prices to rise sharply.