The main exports of Afghanistan, as an agricultural country, are crops especially fruits. Farming is the sole source of livelihood for the majority of Afghans living in rural areas. Afghan farmers work day and night all year round to reap the benefits of their hard work at the time of harvest, but unfortunately all their efforts have been going in vain for years. Pakistan has long been creating transit barriers to the export of Afghan fruit and vegetables during their harvest season, or increases tariffs on them to an extent that virtually makes their exportation useless due to high costs involved. Pakistan, this year too, has tripled tariffs on Afghan fruit, inflicting heavy losses on Afghan peasants.
Finding reliable markets for Afghan agricultural products is a major problem that is yet to be resolved, and has long plagued the country’s agricultural sector. Although the government has paved the ground for exports of Afghan products to several countries through air corridors, the exportation of all fruits in cargo flights is unfeasible. Moreover, it is costly, and reduces the level of profits of Afghan farmers.
Afghan government has to seek fundamental and permanent alternatives for the export of fruits and other agricultural produce. Afghanistan’s agricultural products are unique in terms of quality and taste, but the government has failed to find appropriate markets for them. Additionally, the farmers do not have sufficient facilities and infrastructure to preserve their fruit. Had the farmers possessed storage facilities, they would have not been forced to sell their crops at a cheap price during their season that cannot recover the costs.
To address the issue, the government has to give priority to two things. First, it should find markets for Afghan fruit in other countries besides Pakistan. If people from other countries become aware of the quality and taste of our agricultural produce through a successful marketing campaign, they will definitely show willingness to buy them, a move that will reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistani markets. The second thing Afghan government should focus on is the construction of cold storages and other infrastructure for preservation of agricultural products. In this case, even if Pakistan imposes high tariffs on Afghan crops during their season, the farmers will have the opportunity to store their produce and sell them later at a reasonable price. Even if they are not exported, they will meet the domestic market demand for fruits, which should otherwise be imported when it is not their season, and will boost the country’s economy.