Saffron exports to India surpass $19 million mark

Afghanistan’s saffron export to India topped $19.08 million last year, indicating an 80 percent increase over the past five years.

In 2019, Afghanistan exported $17.38 million worth of saffron to India.

In an effort to further promote Afghan saffron trade in India, the Afghanistan Commercial Attaché office in Mumbai, in association with USAID and the US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), and Indian Chamber of International Business (ICIB) hosted the Afghan Saffron Promotion Virtual Conference on Wednesday.

“USAID, in collaboration with the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Agriculture, is working with Afghan and Indian private and public sectors to increase saffron supply, reduce trade costs, and better serve Indian markets and consumers,” said USAID/Afghanistan Mission Director Tina Dooley-Jones.

“Together, we are working to improve farming techniques so Afghan farmers can sell more, high-quality saffron while adhering to important safety guidelines,” she said.

The event was attended by dignitaries from World Trade Center Mumbai, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and Kabul and Herat Chambers of Commerce & Investment, the Afghan Embassy in India said in a statement.

Manpreet Singh, President of the Indian Chamber of International Business said: “The market opportunity in India for saffron and Afghanistan is wide open. I know that Afghan saffron is winning international quality and taste awards. The price is also right. The only problem is that consumers do not know this.”