TORKHAM: Afghanistan has sent back 15 tonnes of lemons imported from Pakistan, allegedly affected by bacteria.
According to Afghan officials, the affected fruits could pose a threat to consumer health and the market, so they were sent back to Pakistan through quarantine administration.
According to Afghan media, the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Nangarhar province reported that the fruits were infected with diseases and pests after checking them. Provincial Director of Agriculture Maulvi Wali Mohsen warned traders that “only quality and healthy fruits and vegetables should be imported under the regulations of the Islamic Emirate, so as not to harm public health and the market.”
According to agricultural experts, canker is a dangerous bacterial disease that especially affects citrus fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges. The disease is spread by a bacterium called “Xanthomonas exsopodus”.
This bacterial disease affects the market value of the fruit as it causes stigma, which results in water losses in the fruit, like lemons and oranges. Severe infection not only affects production but also damages the export reputation of the fruits.
The report claims that this is not the first incident, as substandard fruits and vegetables from Pakistan have been returned at the Torkham border before this also. The incident has emerged as a major challenge for Pakistani exporters, who are already facing issues like competitiveness and quality control in the global market.
Experts have called on the government to take immediate steps to improve the quality of export goods and make the agricultural quarantine system effective, so that such a situation can be avoided in the future.
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