Exporting Afghanistan: A Photo Essay

Farmers learn how to use a gas-powered mister on red grape vines (photo by P.J.)

Last week I wrote this story for the IPS newswire about a program in Kabul that buys fruit from farmers across Afghanistan, packages the produce and exports it to the wider world. The program, based out of the Badam Bagh neighborhood (which means “almond grove” in Dari) also has a model farm where farmers from dozens of provinces come to learn modern organic agricultural techniques.

It’s a cool program, funded by USAID and administered by the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, and teaches farmers everything from safe use of organic pesticides to crop rotation methods. This year alone the Badam Bagh shipping center has packaged and shipped 3 million tons of apples from Wardak and Paktia provinces to consumers in other countries  The day I was there, a huge shipment of pomegranates came in from Kandahar. I was given a few as a gift, and they were some of the sweetest fruit I’ve tasted.

I’ve posted photos from my visit below the fold, interspersed with clips from the story and quotes from the workers.

Enjoy…

On a recent Tuesday, the shipping centre was humming, processing a huge load of pomegranates that had just arrived from Kandahar. Workers sorted the fruit, with the highest quality pomegranates being shipped abroad at premium prices in cardboard boxes marked, “Quality Fresh Fruits From Afghanistan.” The remaining fruit stays in Afghanistan and will be sold in markets here.

Eighteen-year-old Murtaza has worked in the shipping centre for three months and says that while the work isn’t easy, it is steady and he also feels like he’s helping people learn that Afghanistan has more to offer the world than war and political unrest.

“People might see the Afghan label on these pomegranates and think a little differently about our home,” he says.

In some cases the fruit goes through an extra step before being sold on the open market. The grapes for instance, will be placed in the farm’s raisin shed, where they will be dried before being packaged and sold. ”These are Iranian style,” says farmer Hamid, pointing to bunches of grapes hanging by string from the ceiling.

“And these,” he says gesturing at dozens of grape clusters drying on a metal lattice, “are Indian style.”

Then Hamid lovingly shows off bunches of grapes hanging over a series of bamboo stalks laid horizontally. “These are Afghan style,” he says. “The best raisins in the world.”