The continued closure of border crossings with Pakistan has created serious challenges for traders in Afghanistan. Several traders in Kabul say that the absence of standard cold storage facilities has doubled their problems. They add that if modern, high-capacity cold storage facilities existed in the country, a significant portion of their produce would not perish, saving them from millions of dollars in losses. The traders stress that the issue is so widespread that more than half of their products have either spoiled or been sold at very low prices.
These traders told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that agricultural production in Afghanistan reaches its peak during the summer season. However, due to the lack of proper cold storage, a large portion of the produce is exported to Pakistan all at once, forcing local consumers to buy their needed goods at high prices. According to them, if the Taliban established and operated standard cold storage in Kabul and other provinces, it would not only improve the economic conditions of farmers but also ensure price stability and affordability of agricultural products throughout the year.
Gada Mohammad Kohdamani, one of the traders, identifies the lack of standard cold storage facilities in Afghanistan as a major challenge for both traders and farmers. He says that Afghanistan needs at least 200 standard cold storage facilities with a capacity of 5,000 to 10,000 tons across the country to preserve at least 50 percent of its fruits and vegetables. According to him, the establishment of such facilities would enable the export of Afghan produce via air and land routes—especially through alternative routes to Pakistan—into regional and global markets.
Kohdamani says, “Afghanistan is a country that has always been in unhealthy competition with its two neighbors, and trade relations with them frequently face tensions. Both neighboring countries also have agricultural products similar to Afghanistan’s. Therefore, if we do not have standard cold storage, our products will either perish or be sold at extremely low prices.” He calls on traders, particularly Afghan citizens living abroad, to invest in this sector to support the agricultural industry and local farmers and traders.
He adds, “Many of our traders have gone bankrupt because of Pakistan’s unfair and unhealthy competition. We must learn from these experiences and establish standard cold storage facilities. In winter, our agricultural products are lost due to the lack of such facilities, forcing us to import from other countries, especially Iran. When we see Iran’s advanced cold storage systems, it truly pains us, because Afghanistan, despite having fruits and vegetables of the best quality, still lacks these essential facilities.”
Another trader, Ghulam Yahya Meshkwani, considers the existence of standard cold storage essential for preserving perishable goods. He says that the establishment of such facilities in Afghanistan could play an important role in controlling the prices of fruits and agricultural products in both domestic and international markets.
Meshkwani explains, “Constructing standard cold storage in the country is very beneficial, particularly to prevent the spoilage of perishable fruits. If cold storage existed, traders and farmers could supply their products to international markets at the right time and with better quality. This would not only increase income but also help promote the country’s exports.”
Omid Haidari, a member of the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock and senior advisor to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, describes the existence of standard cold storage as one of the fundamental needs of Afghan traders.
Haidari adds, “Investment in cold storage facilities is, in fact, an investment in the food security of the people of Afghanistan. I have personally invested in this field and currently own a cold storage facility with a capacity of over one thousand tons. I have also pledged to invest in other provinces if land is made available.”
Trader Ramin Haidari says that the lack of standard cold storage has led to shortages of fruits and vegetables only a month after the harvest season ends in Afghanistan. He adds, “Cold storage is one of our main domestic challenges. In winter, we run out of onions and potatoes, and one to two months later, Pakistan exports the same products back to Afghanistan at double the price. We do not have large-scale cold storage with capacities of 15 to 20 tons in the country.”
Another trader, Yamin Watanyar, says that standard cold storages require a reliable power supply, which is nearly impossible in Afghanistan. He explains, “There are very few standard cold storages in the country. A proper cold storage facility must have 24-hour electricity, but such a setup does not currently exist. Most storage receive limited electricity, while they should have at least 16 hours of power and cover the remaining 8 to 9 hours using generators or solar systems. If built according to global standards, fruits and vegetables could be preserved for months and supplied to the market on time.”
However, the lack of cold storage affects not only fresh fruits. Traders in the dried fruit sector also complain about this problem.
Khalid Rahmani, spokesperson for the Afghanistan Dried Fruit Exporters Association, says that over the past twenty years, Afghan dried fruits have been stored using traditional methods, and so far, there is no dedicated cold storage facility for dried fruits in the country.
Rahmani explains, “Unfortunately, there are no cold storages for dried fruits, especially in border areas and airports. However, the Ministry of Commerce has several times announced that land has been allocated in industrial parks for constructing cold storage facilities to encourage investment. At present, with the support of international organizations, a few projects are underway in northern Kabul, Badghis, Kandahar, and Helmand. Nevertheless, Afghanistan faces two major challenges—one of them being the shortage of electricity.”
Meanwhile, several economic experts say that the lack of standard cold storage facilities and equipment is one of the main factors leading to the loss of agricultural produce in the country.
Abdul Nasir Rashtia, an economic affairs expert, says, “Border and transit problems with Pakistan cause our traders and farmers to suffer losses every year. If standard cold storage were established within the country and we could prevent the simultaneous supply of agricultural products during harvest season, this could help boost agriculture, improve farmers’ economic conditions, and ensure the supply of essential products to domestic markets.”
The Torkham border crossing was closed to all traffic on October 12, 2025, following an armed clash between Taliban fighters and Pakistani forces. Later, the Spin Boldak and Torkham crossings were partially reopened, allowing only Pakistani vehicles and some Afghan migrant families to pass.
Currently, all border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain closed to transit and trade, and only a few crossings permit migrant families to return to Afghanistan from Pakistan.
The Taliban recently gave traders a three-month deadline to find alternative routes for the country’s imports and exports. However, traders say that the Pakistani market cannot be replaced and that these political challenges must be resolved fundamentally to restore the country’s export process to normal.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
سردخانههای معیاری؛ گمشدهای که اقتصاد کشاورزی افغانستان را فلج کرده است
