Nuts and Dry Fruits Council seeks air corridor to transport dry fruits from Afghanistan

 Nut and Dry Fruit Council of India Gunjan Jain

The Nut and Dry Fruit Council of India (NDFC-I) has urged the Centre to create an air corridor for the transportation of nuts and dry fruits from Afghanistan to India, as its border with Pakistan has been closed.

“That’s something that we are asking the government right now. Afghanistan produces a lot of raisins and dry fruits such as figs, raisins and apricots. As the borders are closed, we can’t get access to those products in India,” said NDFC-I President Gunjan Jain.

On April 22, terrorists from across Pakistan shot and killed 27 tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, leading to further deterioration of relations with Islamabad. India shut its borders with Pakistan. 

According to the trade, this will likely impact the ensuing festival season, as prices of dry fruits may rise. 

Largest exporter

“We are requesting the government to create an air corridor because it can take time to reroute the consignments via Chabahar or Bandar Abbas port in Iran. But we have a payment issue in Iran because of the US sanctions,” he said. 

Indian traders will find it difficult to pay international payments if the consignments are routed through Iran. “So we have requested the government to create a different air corridor between India and Afghanistan. India can try and bear the cost,” said Jain. 

Afghanistan is one of the largest nuts and dry fruit exporters to India, with an estimated 20,000 tonnes annually. India imports dried apricots, almonds, black and green raisins, pistachios and walnuts to meet rising consumption. Prices of imported dried fruit have already increased by 15 per cent with the closure of borders. 

Published on May 6, 2025