By Md. Zillur Rahaman

The wheels of Afghanistan's war-torn economy are turning fast. Agriculture is making a big contribution in this regard. Cultivation of Pomegranate is one of the agricultural product in Afghanistan. Pomegranates are grown in abundance in the country. Afghanistan is one of the top countries in the production and export of this fruit. Juice and soft drinks are among the sectors that the country has improved since the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate Government (IEG) of Afghanistan came to power in August 2021. Soft water products are being unveiled one after another in the presence of IEG representatives and are being exported to the Middle East and Europe America.

Recently, after winning the title of the best currency in the world ranking, Afghanistan has also occupied the top position in the world in the production of fruit juice. Afghanistan is now the best name in the world ranking for fruit juice production in the December 2023 quarter, after Afghani won the title of the best currency in the world ranking in the September 2023 quarter.

Good news is coming one after another from Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate. After they came to power there, as a blessing of Almighty Allah, the country produced the highest amount of pomegranates during the remembrance last year, which has already started exporting to India, Pakistan, Turkey, UAE, Qatar and even Germany. Currently, the foreign exchange reserves of the IEG have started to increase with the profit from the sale of these pomegranates and its juice.

Afghanistan was once the world's leading producer of opium. The country's current Taliban government imposed a strict ban on opium production after coming to power. As a result, the yield of opium has decreased drastically by almost 95 percent, according to a recent report of the United Nations (UN). According to a report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, opium cultivation across the country has declined from 2.33 lakh hectares to less than only 10,800 hectares in 2023.

Opium production fell by 95 percent to 333 tonnes from the previous year. Basically, the policy changes of the Taliban have a far-reaching effect on the country's economy. However, almost two-thirds of the country's current population is in need of humanitarian assistance. But surprisingly, Myanmar has emerged as the world's largest opium-producing country, surpassing Afghanistan. According to the above report of the UN, opium production in Myanmar is expected to increase by 36 percent to 1,080 tons last year. This production is much more than the amount of opium in Afghanistan. Myanmar is currently wracked by civil war, and extensive opium cultivation has become a lucrative source of income in the midst of civil war. It should be noted that opium is an ingredient in the production of heroin and from it, apart from heroin, morphine is obtained, which is used as medicine.

To know the story of this rise of Afghan pomegranate, we have to go to Kandahar state, 500 km from Kabul. which was the capital of the Islamic Emirate during its previous rule. Pomegranate orchards cover thousands of hectares as far as the eye can spread. Huge ripe pomegranates hanging from the trees. According to the West, Afghanistan is a place of terror, but the story of the country's oil mines, as well as the heavenly environment that produces such expensive fruits, was kept hidden from the world. World's Best Pomegranates nowhere else World's New Superpower grows in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, some Afghan companies including "Pamir Gola" and "Safa Gola" are exporting various fruit juices including pomegranate to the developed world. Especially the United States (US) itself has become the largest market for palm kernels in Afghanistan. Those who have carried out massacres in Afghanistan for so many years are currently enjoying the juice of Afghanistan!

The Taliban's supreme leader banned drug cultivation in April 2022. Earlier, in 2000, when the Taliban were in power, they banned opium cultivation. Terming opium cultivation as 'un-Islamic' or haram, then Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar said anyone planting poppy seeds would be severely punished. However, experts believe that they started the initiative as a ploy to gain international recognition and funding, but this has now been proven wrong. At one time, Afghanistan's Helmand province traditionally grew more than half of the country's opium. But opium cultivation has declined drastically since the Taliban ban. Now wheat is also being considered as an alternative. The decline in poppy cultivation has led to an increase in wheat cultivation in the same region, but poor farmers seem less likely to take it up as profits are low. Because of this, farmers are now turning to pomegranate production.

Afghanistan is among the top producers and exporters of pomegranates. Pomegranates are grown in abundance in the country. But while pomegranate was exported as a common fruit, now it is being exported in the form of a drink. Pamir Kola's Shafa drink has created a buzz around the world. It is considered to be the world's best-selling Coca-Cola alternative and health drink. In a report in July last year, Afghan media reported that for the first time, the US was importing pomegranate-based beverages from Afghanistan. Afghanistan's Ministry of Industry and Commerce said at the time that a shipment of pomegranate juice had been exported to the US for the first time from Afghanistan.

Originally a company in Herat produced pomegranate soft drinks. A spokesman for the ministry says that the export of domestic products is a significant step in the growth of the Afghan economy. He said, 'Recently, two containers carrying 45 tons of pomegranate juice of Pamir Cola Company were sent to the US. Recently the drinks have also been shipped to Germany and Kazakhstan. Besides, they also export it to Türkiye, India, Pakistan. Afghans are now dreaming of exporting this product around the world. Pamir Cola Company says the company has also exported the drink to Iran, United Arab Emirates and Central Asian countries. According to economists, expanding domestic product exports can help grow the Afghan economy and provide employment opportunities for the people. According to them, this will encourage more investment in the country and the amount of investment will increase significantly if exports increase and the government provides more facilities.

Last year, the Chamber of Commerce and Investment in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Taliban Government of Afghanistan organized a week-long national and international exhibition with the participation of hundreds of local and foreign businessmen. Meanwhile, some Afghan farmers send pomegranates to a major international exhibition in China. Afghanistan's pomegranate gained huge popularity in that exhibition. Afghan farmers are happy about it. One of the farmers told the media, "From this year, I have collected 10 acres of pomegranates." It is very good to send pomegranates to China. Because if we export pomegranates to China, not only the (Afghan) farmers, but the whole country and people will benefit. The farmer lives in the Argandad Valley in southern Kandahar province. It is a major pomegranate producing area in Afghanistan.

Autumn is the prime season of pomegranates for Afghans, whether it's Kandahar, Kabul, or the northern mountain counties, fresh pomegranates and fruit juice can be seen everywhere on the streets. "We initially sent 200 kg of pomegranates to the exhibition," said a farmer associated with the arrival and export of pomegranates from Afghanistan to China. They first reached Kabul by land from Kandahar. From there he flew to Dubai and later to Shanghai, China. He had previously exhibited handwoven carpets from Afghanistan at the China Exhibition in 2020. During that time he received orders for more than 2,000 carpets from all over China. Through which nearly two thousand Afghan families have earned income for the whole year. He believes that Afghanistan's pomegranate will soon reach the world and become the country's main export product. According to Afghan fruit sellers, pomegranate is the most profitable crop for the country's farmers. Its economic value is higher than grapes, apples and other traditional fruits grown in the hill country.

Analysts say the current wave of boycotts of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola following the Gaza-Israel conflict could see Afghan juices and soft drinks take over the vacant market. Even their plan to import soft drinks in Bangladesh has been seen through social media. If the Afghan companies can capture this empty market in this tide stage of boycott, it will be a big battle.

Surprisingly, the country's pomegranate production tripled after the Taliban came to power. When the Emirate government banned opium cultivation, many scoffed that the mullahs' avenues of income had been closed. But now it is seen that due to the good governance of the Emirate government, one after another mines are being discovered there and instead of opium, the production and potential of valuable fruits including pomegranate grapes have increased manifold.

The writer is a, Banker and Columnist