Afghanistan to harvest 24 tons saffron

Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-02 15:16:49|Editor: huaxia

KABUL, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is predicting that the country could harvest 24 tons saffron in current year as more lands have been cultivated with the valuable plant, a local media outlet reported Wednesday.

Citing Akbar Rustami, the spokesman for the ministry, Tolonews reported that 8,000 hectares of lands had been cultivated with saffron this year against 7,750 hectares in 2019 in the country.

The spokesman also has foreseen 10 percent increase in saffron product in current year, saying Afghanistan would harvest 24 tons saffron in 2020.

In the meantime, the farmers and those involved in saffron business, according to the media outlet have complained they have lost the benefit due to lack of bazaar last year, calling upon government to find market for the product in current year.

"Our saffron from last year has also been left due to lack of market," the media outlet quoting a saffron trader Alaudin Amirimer as saying.

The traders, according to the media outlet, described China and Saudi Arabia as good market for Afghan saffron, calling upon the government to facilitate the export of their saffron to the said countries. Enditem

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