The US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced yesterday (Monday) that a buyer has placed an annual order for 600 kilograms of Afghan saffron.
According to USAID, this order was secured at the 2024 Paris trade show, with an annual sales value reaching $1.07 million.
USAID added that this order will bring a positive change to the position of Afghan saffron in global markets and will also improve the livelihoods of people in Afghanistan.
“a major buyer placed an order of 600 kg per year of Afghan saffron at the Paris 2024 trade show. Valued at $1,070,000 annually, this deal elevates Afghan saffron as a luxury brand while improving the livelihoods of Afghans nationwide,” USAID stated.
Abdul Nasir Rashtia, an economic analyst, told TOLOnews: “Unfortunately, Afghan saffron is often smuggled to a neighboring country, where it is then re-exported under that country’s name to international markets. Conversely, saffron from neighboring countries enters Afghan markets and is exported as Afghan saffron, which can harm the reputation and credibility of Afghan saffron.”
Afghan saffron, known for its unique quality and fragrance, has now gained a special place in global markets and plays an important role in Afghanistan’s economy and the livelihoods of its people.
At the same time, the Chamber of Commerce and Investment has noted that Afghan saffron, due to its distinctive quality, has high potential for growth in global markets. According to the Chamber, with proper investment and marketing, this product can become one of Afghanistan’s key export goods, benefiting farmers’ livelihoods and contributing to the country’s economic development.
Khan Jan Alokozay, a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, told TOLOnews: “The more saffron is produced and the more international buyers there are, the more we produce. Our traders are compelled to invest in it.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reported that from January to September 2024, Afghan saffron exports exceeded $36 million, with shipments to India, the United Arab Emirates, the U.S., Canada, Turkey, and European countries.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told TOLOnews: “In the first nine months of 2024, Afghanistan exported 46 tons of saffron, valued at over $36 million. Most of the exports went to India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the U.S., Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.”
Previously, Ali Mobaraki, the Director of Agriculture Jihad in Neyshabur, Iran had said that despite Iran’s saffron exports to Afghanistan, the country has become one of Iran’s main saffron competitors.
