The Ministry of Industry and Commerce says that Afghanistan exported medicinal plants worth approximately $20 million in the past year.

These plants mainly include heng and various other types, which have been exported to India, the United States, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Pakistan, Japan, and Turkmenistan.

Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzada, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told TOLOnews: "Afghanistan’s medicinal plants were exported in 2024, weighing 15,200 tons and valued at around $20 million, to countries including India, the UAE, Pakistan, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, and others."

It is said that these plants are used in the production of various medicines in these countries.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Livestock Chamber emphasizes supporting farmers to increase the export of medicinal plants. The chamber believes that if more investments are made in the processing of Afghanistan’s medicinal plants, the country could gain greater profits in international markets.

Waseem Safi, the CEO of the Agriculture and Livestock Chamber, told TOLOnews: "We can process heng and saffron here, which will not only create job opportunities for our people but also support agriculture and livestock."

Economic analyst Qutbuddin Yaqubi said: "If the sale of these plants is carried out successfully and properly, it will play a crucial role in the country’s economy."

Following the return of the Islamic Emirate to power and the ban on poppy cultivation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock has introduced medicinal plants as an alternative crop to farmers. However, farmers engaged in this sector have consistently called for the establishment of markets for these plants.