USAID Expands Cooperation with Afghan Traders for Selling Saffron worth $1.4 million to the US Markets

• USAID Expands Cooperation with Afghan Traders in Selling Saffron worth $1.4 million to the US Markets
• Afghan saffron has been recognized as the best in the world in terms of its quality
• Afghanistan as a producer of saffron stand at third position after Iran and India.
• Price of 1 Kg saffron in local markets is up to Afs90,000 ($1,145) while in international markets it is above $1,400

By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia

Kabul: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has facilitated Afghan traders in selling saffron worth $1.4 million in the markets of United States as the demand for Afghan saffron foreign countries scales up.

Saffron cultivated and produced in Afghanistan has been recognized as the best in the world in terms of its quality for the eighth consecutive year, according to the Saffron Producers Union in Kabul.

Afghanistan as a producer of saffron stand at third position after Iran and India.

The price for each kilogram of saffron in local markets is up to Afs90,000 ($1,145) and it is above $1,400 in international markets, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that Afghan saffron worth $1.4 million has been sold in the United States.

According to the USAID statement, these traders have urged the officials in the Islamic Emirate to attract international organizations’ support for Afghan saffron production and exports worldwide.

Abdul Khaliq Khodadadi, a trader, told local media “If all institutions focus their attention on the private sector, I think there will be no need for charity programs forever.”

“Support from foreign institutions is very effective for farmers and companies”, stated Mohammad Haqqyar, an Afghan trader,

In the past six months, about $26 million worth of Afghan saffron has been exported to various countries, according to data of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

“In the first six months of 2024, Afghan saffron, with a total weight of 32,500 kilograms valued at approximately $26 million, has been exported to India, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Russia, the United States, and other countries”, stated Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesman the of Ministry Industry and Commerce.

Highlighting the restriction on Afghanistan trade and commerce activities, Chamber of Commerce and Investment stated Afghanistan’s exports to the region will expand if major challenges such as banking restrictions and obtaining commercial visas for traders exporting to foreign countries are resolved.

“Saffron traders have become capable, and our top two companies, which had the best exports, received the annual award. We strive to extend Afghan saffron to the entire world”, stated Mohammad Yunus Momand, the First Deputy of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment.

Previously, Afghan saffron was recognized as the world’s highest quality saffron for the ninth time in a global competition by the International Taste Institute based in Belgium.

Afghanistan, as the second-largest saffron producer in the world, is expected to harvest nearly fifty tons of saffron this year, stated the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock.

Afghanistan provides 8.15 tons (6.3%) of the world’s global saffron consumption, which is 430 tons a year, according to data of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.

According to the ministry, saffron is cultivated in twenty-six provinces of the country, but nearly 90 percent of the country’s saffron is harvested in Herat.