Ahmad Qureshi HERAT CITY, Aug 22 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The provincial government of the western Herat province has exported 60 tons of grapes to Leningrad city of Russia on Tuesday.

The consignment was part of the agreement signed between Russia and Faqiri Company of Afghanistan under which grapes will be exported to Russia via road. Bashir Ahmad Ahmadi, an official at the agriculture department, told Pajhwok Afghan News Russia was ready to import 4,500 tons of grapes from Afghanistan.

He said they were expecting over 100,000 tons of grapes produce from orchards in Guzra, Ingil and Pashtun Zarghun districts of the province. Haji Ahmad Shah Faqiri, in charge of the Faqiri Company, said his company had signed the contract with Russia about one and a half month back for export of five different kinds of best quality grapes to that country.

The grapes exported to Russia included Kishmishi, Fakhri, Shingul Khani, Mir Ahmadi and Hita, said Faqiri, adding the next few years would enable them to secure a prominent place for fruits from Afghanistan in Russian market.

He said besides Russia, some Indian businessmen had also approached them to purchase 5,000 tons of grapes for onward export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).