Afghanistan Crisis: Dry fruits prices soar ahead of festivals
A large quantity of dry fruits in India come from Afghanistan. As the festival season is approaching, the price of dry fruits has increased.
The whole world is aware of the ongoing Afghanistan crisis as the Taliban takes over the country. This has also affected the trade between India and Afghanistan. India is the largest market for Afghan products in South Asia. A large number of dry fruits in India come from Afghanistan. Ahead of the festivals, the price of dry fruits has increased in the country.
Dry fruits imported from Afghanistan
In India, dry fruits are imported in large quantities from Afghanistan. These dry fruits include pistachios, figs, walnut kernels, dried raisins, almonds and dried apricots, although asafoetida, watermelon, apple, cherry, pomegranate, saffron and cumin are also imported from this country.
What India exports
India exports black pepper, coconut, jute goods, wheat, tobacco, coffee, cardamom to Afghanistan.
Investments
India has invested about Rs 22,251 crore in Afghanistan in the last 20 years. During the last two decades, India has constructed about 218 km road between Delaram and Zaranj Salma Dam in Afghanistan. India has also built the Parliament of Afghanistan.
How are goods imported?
The goods imported from Afghanistan reach India through the Wagah border via Pakistan. Since Afghanistan is surrounded by land, so trade with it is done through road or air. Most of the dry fruits in India are supplied by air. Afghanistan is a major importer of dry fruits in India.
Hike in prices as festivals are approaching
Satendra Singh Chauhan, former president of Sarv Vyapar Mandal of Khari Baoli, Delhi, says that the prices of dry fruits have started increasing in the market since the news of the Afghanistan crisis started. Retail customers are less in the market, but traders have started stocking the goods, due to which the price of all dry fruits has increased by Rs 100-200. This increase has happened in the last one week.
On the other hand, dry fruits trader Kanwaljit Bajaj in Khari Baoli says that in the coming time, there will be an impact of 5-7% on the dry fruits market.