Local sources in Paktika province report that a large portion of this year's apple harvest is rotting due to blocked transportation routes and a lack of market access. This situation threatens to wipe out the year-long efforts of the province's orchardists.
On Friday, October 9 (17 Mizan), these sources told the 8 Sobh newspaper that farmers are watching their produce spoil with great concern. According to them, the Taliban government has paid no attention to marketing this important product or facilitating its export.
Furthermore, farmers complain about a lack of support in other critical areas. They report receiving no assistance with proper storage techniques, timely harvesting methods, or the construction of cold storage facilities. Public awareness campaigns on these topics have also been absent.
According to the sources, farmers and orchardists are urging the Taliban government, national traders, and relevant organizations to quickly find a suitable market for Paktika's apples to prevent further losses.
This problem has been exacerbated by the closure of border crossings and routes with Pakistan, which was the primary export route for Afghanistan's fresh fruit. This has inflicted huge financial losses on both farmers and fruit traders.
Paktika is one of Afghanistan's key provinces for producing high-quality apples, and the economy of many families in the region depends on horticulture. The failure to sell these crops could deepen poverty in the area.
Source: 8 Sobh Newspaper
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