A pomegranate grower in Kandahar’s Zherai district tells Amu TV he has nowhere to store his harvest as limited export options and periodic border closures make it difficult to get the fruit to market before it spoils.
Agha Mohammad said this year’s harvest is weaker than in previous years and that growers need access to cold-storage facilities and more international markets.
“The pomegranate harvest is not like previous years,” he said. “We want opportunities to export to Russia or other countries, or Dubai. Right now, we only have Pakistan, and sometimes the border is closed. We also have nowhere to store the pomegranates.”
Kandahar pomegranates are known for their distinctive taste and have long been sold in domestic and international markets. Growers say difficulties transporting the fruit abroad are limiting their ability to sell the harvest on time and recover the costs of maintaining their orchards.
Farmers are calling for more cold-storage facilities and greater access to international markets to reduce losses during the harvest season.
The pomegranate harvest, meanwhile, is providing temporary employment for some young people in Kandahar.
One resident told Amu TV that many young people are finding work picking and collecting pomegranates during the harvest.
“We are happy because it is pomegranate season, and many young people are working in the harvest,” he said.
Another resident said the seasonal work provides an important source of income.
“This is seasonal work for us,” he told Amu TV. “We earn between 1,000 and 2,000 Pakistani rupees a day.”
Kandahar’s agricultural products, including pomegranates, grapes and dried fruits, have traditionally been exported primarily to Pakistan and India, with smaller quantities reaching Arab countries and other Asian markets.
Growers say improved trade routes, additional cold-storage facilities and access to new markets could help them sell their produce more reliably and reduce losses.
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