Kashmir Digits

As Taliban halts trade with India, India is witnessing a demand and supply problem of dry fruits that are pushing the prices of these commodities.

According to media reports, after taking over Kabul, the Taliban had stopped the movement of cargo through the transit routes of Pakistan, thereby stopping exports, imports from the country.

Ever since the Taliban halted the exports to India, the dry fruits prices are on an upward spiral . The buyers are witnessing a price rise of over Rs 200 per kg of almonds, figs, apricots and raisins, pistachio prices have also risen by Rs 250 per kg.

The Federation of Indian Export Organisation, a trade promotion body set up jointly by the Union Ministry of Commerce and the private trading sector told media agency ANI, “We keep a close watch on developments in Afghanistan. Imports from there come through the transit route of Pakistan. As of now, [the] Taliban have stopped movement of cargo to Pakistan, so virtually imports have been stopped.”

This supply problem comes at a time when the festival season in India is kicking off and the demand for dry fruits have risen sharply. From the wide array of available dry fruits, India imports dried raisin, walnut, almond, fig, pine nut, pistachios, dried apricot apart from fresh fruits such as pomegranate, apple, apricot, cherry, melon, and watermelon, medicinal herbs and Saffron from the south Asian country.