An overview of production and export trade performance of walnut in Afghanistan

World walnuts production was 2063.14 thousand metric tonnes, of which China alone accounts for about 50 per cent share. Although, Afghanistan is not a major producer of global walnuts, it contributes to country’s GDP earnings.Using secondary data on area, production and export of walnut, the growth inproduction and trade were estimated. Growth rate in area, production and productivity of walnut in Afghanistan for the period of 2007-16 indicates that the harvested area had increased by registering a CAGR 2.9 per cent, while production and productivity registered a negative CAGR of 5.8 per cent and 8.5 per cent, respectively. The world total walnut export in 2016 was 667,602 MT. U.S.A. was in the leading position among the walnut exporting countries in the world in 2016 with the contribution of 39 per cent share followed by Turkey and Chile which accounted for 19.42 per cent and 7.35 per cent, respectively. Shelled walnut export growth rate from Afghanistan registered a negative CAGR of 15.05 per cent for the period of 2007-16. The total export of shelled walnut from Afghanistan in 2016 was 510 metric tonnes and it was 2514 metric tonnes for the walnut with shell. The major destination for Afghanistan walnut in 2016 was India accounting for 84.53 per cent, followed by Pakistan. The transition probability matrix for pip of walnut export from Afghanistan for the period 2012/13-2016/17 was highly unstable which indicates that there is no loyal market for pip of walnut export from Afghanistan. The major destination countries were India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirate and Turkey.