The Herat Agriculture and Livestock Department reported that over the past year, more than 50,000 tons of animal hides have been exported to Iran and Turkey.
According to the department, the hides are collected from various provinces and exported through the Islam Qala border.
Mohammad Omar Qasid, the head of livestock affairs at the Herat Agriculture and Livestock Department, told TOLOnews: "We have significant exports of hides, and currently, we are exporting to two countries, Iran and Turkey, through the Islam Qala customs."
Some individuals involved in collecting animal hides say that this product is exported to other countries at low prices.
According to the Reseller Association in Herat, animal hides are collected from various provinces and brought to Herat, from where they are exported abroad.
Jamaluddin Taheri, the head of the Resellers Association in Herat, told TOLOnews: "These animal hides are brought to Herat from provinces like Balkh, Badghis, Faryab, Farah, and some other provinces."
Some resellers in Herat say that the price of exported hides has decreased compared to the past. According to them, the importing countries have significantly reduced the price of animal hides.
Safdar, one of the resellers in Herat, said: "If these hides, which are exported to Iran and Turkey, were used within Afghanistan, thousands of people would find employment, and Afghanistan could become self-sufficient in shoe and leather production."
Ghulam Rasool, another reseller, said: "The situation was much better before, but recently prices have dropped, and traders themselves are facing difficulties."
Animal hides and wool are primarily used in the production of clothing, bags, and shoes.
According to some reseller, in previous years, when animal hides were not exported, they had little use in the domestic markets and often went to waste.
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