The war that broke in Afghanistan has hampered the dry fruits industry in Jammu. Trouble in imports has seen a sharp rise in dry fruits such as almonds, apricot, figs, pistachio etc.
Traders are saying that they are experiencing heavy losses due to this disruption in the imports from Afghanistan, citing the reduced sales of dry fruits since last week.
Due to disruption in imports of figs, almonds, pistachios and apricots, prices of dry fruits in Jammu have skyrocketed.
Costs of Pistachio have risen by Rs 600 per kg, while the price of Afghan almonds and raisins has now increased by Rs 350 per kg.
The prices of figs have hit by Rs 400.
The price inflation in dry fruits has caused huge financial losses to the traders.
Shanti Gupta, the owner of a dry fruit shop in Jammu while speaking to India today said, "Import supply has been severely impacted due to the present situation in Afghanistan. As a result, prices of dry fruits have risen sharply. Our customers are unable to understand the problem. We are losing our business ahead of the festive season."
A customer outside a dry fruit shop said that he regularly buys dry fruits as they are immunity boosters. But the prices of dry fruits are skyrocketing. An ordinary man cannot purchase dry fruits now, he added.
Figs are known for boosting immunity and traders were making good money during the Covid wave as Figs we're high in demand. However, due now the sale of figs have decreased because of the price rise.
Meanwhile, the president of the Jammu Dry Fruit Retail Traders Association informed that the prices will go up further if the situation in Afghanistan remains the same.
India has a long-standing friendly trade relationship with Afghanistan and exports sugar, tea, coffee, clothing, pharmaceuticals, transmission powers, cherry, watermelon, and medicinal herbs to the South Asian nation.
The primary imports from Afghanistan mainly include dry fruits. Around 85% of dry fruits are exported to India from Afghanistan. Other exports for Afghanistan include onions, dried raisins, gum, and spices such as hing and shah jeera.
About 38,000 tonnes of products are transported from Afghanistan every year.
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India and Afghanistan are the greatest trade partners and alone in 2021 commodities worth $835 million, informed the Director-General of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), Ajay Sahai
Apart from the export of commodities, India also has invested about $3 million in Afghanistan for several projects, including roads, dams and other infrastructure.