Officials from the Kandahar’s Department of Agriculture and Irrigation on Wednesday reported that fig yields in the province have increased by 25 percent this year.

India is the biggest market for Afghan figs, said officials.

There are over 2,500 hectares of fig-growing fields in Kandahar.

“There are 2,500 hectares of fig-growing fields in Kandahar. According to our calculations, this year we will produce 50,000 tons of figs in the province,” said Hafizullah Saeedi, head of Kandahar’s Agricultural and Irrigation Department.

“This year fig yield was very good. Some gardens had diseases, but despite that production was good” said Madad Khan, a farmer in Kandahar.

“We expect to export 3 percent of figs to Pakistan and the remaining amount to Indian markets,” officials from the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce and Industries said.

Afghan fresh fruits are also exported to Germany and markets in the UAE.

“In Asia, our main fresh fruit market is India,” said Nasrullah Zaheer, head of Kandahar’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries.