Turkey which reportedly needs up to 300 tons of saffron a year will turn into a major customer of Afghanistan’s saffron, said Mr. Chinar of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). Statistics show that Afghanistan produces 15 tons of saffron annually, most of which is produced in Herat province in the west of the country. Chinar said they will continue to remove the 30 percent tariffs on Afghanistan’s saffron. “We want to boost the market for Afghanistan’s saffron through Turkey. I hope that the saffron reflect its Afghan identity,” said Chinar. Officials from Afghanistan’s Saffron Producers Union said Turkey can play as an important bridge for exporting the product to the United States and European markets. “Removing customs charges will be helpful in this regard and it will be an achievement for saffron sector if it is implemented,” said Qudratullah Rahmati, deputy head of the Union. The Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Nasir Ahmad Durrani, meanwhile, said Turkey’s interest in buying saffron from Afghanistan will address the concerns raised by farmers over lack of markets.#InvestInAFG
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