Local officials in Panjshir have announced that around 100 tons of cherry products from the province will be exported to several Central Asian countries and Russia.

According to officials, traders from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan plan not only to purchase cherries but also to buy apples and grapes to export to Central Asian countries.

Previously, cherry products from Panjshir and other provinces were exported to India and Pakistan. However, according to Panjshir’s local authorities, these exports have been suspended this year for various reasons.

Mohammad Agha Hakim, Governor of Panjshir, said: “The export of cherries from Panjshir to Central Asia has begun, and this is good news for Panjshir's orchard owners and all of Afghanistan. If one export route is blocked, another opens.”

Aminul Haq Masouri, head of Industry and Commerce in Panjshir, stated: “Last year, cherries were exported to India, but this year, due to tensions between India and Pakistan, the export market has stagnated. Panjshir’s apples, apricots, and grapes also have high quality.”

Two traders from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have visited Afghanistan and, in meetings with Panjshir's local officials, stated that they plan to purchase around 100 tons of cherry products from the province and export them to some Central Asian countries and Russia. These traders also mentioned that, in addition to cherries, they would buy apples and grapes for export to Central Asia.

Haji Zahid, a Kyrgyz trader, said: “We will not only purchase Panjshir’s cherries but also grapes, apples, and pomegranates, possibly from Panjshir or other provinces, and export them to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and especially Moscow.”

Adli, a trader from Uzbekistan, noted: “I have previously conducted trade activities between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan with good results. We intend to encourage other traders from the former Soviet Union countries with whom we have relations to expand their trade activities in Afghanistan, especially in the field of dried fruits.”

Abdul Basit, a resident of Panjshir, commented on the export of cherries: “In the past, cherries were not sold at high prices, but fortunately now, foreign buyers are coming and exporting cherries out of Afghanistan, which has fortunately improved the markets.”

Meanwhile, according to Panjshir’s local authorities, some orchard owners in the province earned over 360 million afghani last year from the sale of cherry products.