Stranded and Suffering: How the Torkham Crossing Closure Impacts Afghan Farmers
Imagine being a farmer, carefully tending to your crops, and suddenly, you find yourself with nowhere to sell your harvest. This is the grim reality for many Afghan fresh fruit exporters right now. With over 200 trucks loaded with tomatoes, onions, grapes, and apples stuck at the Torkham crossing, trade into Pakistan and beyond has effectively ground to a halt.
According to the Dry Fruit Exporters Union, fresh fruit shipments have almost entirely ceased. Although there’s still some air transport for dried fruits, the costs make it nearly impossible for most exporters to stay afloat. “It’s apple season, and we’ve lost our best route to market,” lamented one spokesperson. This situation has driven fresh fruit exports down by 60 to 70% over the past six months.
The journey isn’t just tough on exporters; it’s hitting local farmers hard as well. One affected trader shared a harrowing story: his tomatoes were sent back to Jalalabad after being stuck at the border for two days. Forced to sell at a loss to avoid spoilage, the ongoing trade disruptions have left many exporters in crippling debt, pushing them to the edge of bankruptcy.
While the Torkham crossing remains closed, there have been limited reopenings at other crossings like Kharlachi and Ghulam Khan, but these haven’t provided much relief. Even more daunting is the loss of seaport access through Iran’s Chabahar and Bandar Abbas ports, largely impacted by international sanctions, leaving Afghan exporters with few viable routes for trade.
To make matters worse, exporters are voicing their concerns, urging the Pakistani government to disentangle politics from trade. They’re calling for urgent investment in Afghanistan’s cold storage, packaging, and shipping facilities. Current options—like a 200-ton cold storage unit—are financially out of reach for most, yet such investments could mean the world for stabilizing markets and creating jobs.
As the corridor for fresh produce trade continues to shrink, thousands of farmers are left in uncertainty. Without timely intervention, the fresh produce sector faces a prolonged downturn, threatening livelihoods and agricultural investment in the region.
We at Pro21st understand the challenges faced by exporters and farmers alike. If you want to stay updated or explore ways to connect and support, feel free to reach out. Together, we can work towards sustainable solutions in these trying times.
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