Amid arrival of saffron harvest season, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) said farmers have harvested three tons more saffron compared with the last year.

According to the ministry, farmers in the country harvested 13 tons of saffron this year while the figure was 10 tons last year.

The ministry says that more than 12 tons of the saffron was harvested in Herat province – which is popular for its saffron products.

“Saffron production is estimated more than 13 tons across the country while government’s plan has predicted 14 tons a year by the solar year 1400 (2021). It means that we can hit the target this year or the next year,” MAIL spokesman Akbar Rustami said.

Meanwhile, officials from Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said saffron export has also increased this year.

According to ACCI figures, up to eight tons of the 10.6 tons of saffron which was harvested last year, has been exported so far.

The ACCI second deputy head Yunus Mohmand said that five tons of the exported saffron was sent to Saudi Arabia through the air corridor over the past five months.

“Saffron export was best this year. We continue our efforts to help farmers to increase their harvest so that we can boost our export,” Mohmand said.

Figures by Ministry of Agriculture show that Afghanistan is the third biggest saffron producer in the world after Iran and India.