Numbers from the union of pine nut growers show that up to 17,000 tons of pine nuts have been harvested this year in the country.
Officials from the pine nuts producer union said that although this year the production of pine nuts has increased in the country, there is still no suitable market.
They said that due to the lack of exports through official routes, these nuts are currently being smuggled, to some extent, into Pakistan.
“If our export routes were open, the price of pine nuts would be much higher. We are optimistic that this problem will be resolved as soon as possible and that our export plans will not be disappointing,” said Yahya Zadran, head of the producers’ union.
While in recent years a large amount of pine nuts was transported to China through air corridors, officials of the union said these routes are closed this year. This will increase the level of smuggling of the product into Pakistan, the harvesters said.
Meanwhile, a number of pine nut exporters urged the taliban to create markets for their products.
Earlier, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock said that efforts are underway to bring improvements in the export of pine nuts.
Currently, 1 kg pine nuts is $13 (1,100 Afn), while in Chinese markets its price increases two to three times.
According to estimates, Afghanistan's annual pine nut production reaches around $500 million.
