HERAT CITY - Saffron farmers in western Herat province claim Iranian saffron is smuggled into Afghanistan and then exported in the name of Afghanistan product.
They say the smuggling of Iranian saffron to Afghanistan has greatly affected the prices of domestic product.
A kilogram of saffron was sold from 70,000 afghanis to 100,000 Afghanis in domestic markets two years ago compared to their this year’s price of 30,000 to 40,000 afghanis.
Shakoor, a saffron farmer in Herat province, said that the saffron price fell around 50 percent during the last three years due to its reduced rate at home and high imports from Iran.
“Unfortunately saffron rates are reducing with each passing day and many those associated with saffron growing suffer losses, they even could not sell product remained from the last year,” he said. Mohammad Yama, another saffron farmer, also complained about imports of Iranian saffron and their sale under the label of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Sayed Abdul WaheedQatali, Herat governor, blamed the private sector for smuggling of Iranian saffron into the country and said that those involved in the business would face strict measures.
He said they had directed local officials to seize smuggled goods and torch them as well as arrest the smugglers. (Pajhwok)