Afghanistan has returned 15 tonnes of lemons imported from Pakistan after inspections found the fruit infected with citrus canker and unfit for consumption.
According to Afghan media, Nangarhar's provincial director of agriculture, Maulvi Wali Mohsin, instructed traders to ensure that only high-quality, healthy fruits and vegetables are imported under the regulations of the Islamic Emirate. He said the measure is intended to protect consumers and the market from losses.
Citrus canker is described by experts as a destructive bacterial disease that affects woody plants, particularly citrus fruits. It can cause substantial damage to commercial varieties such as kinnow and lemons, leading to leaf drop, twig dieback, and premature fruit fall. Infected fruit often loses market value or becomes entirely unsellable.
The disease is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri and is present in many citrus-producing countries, including Pakistan. Severity varies with plant variety, species, and climatic conditions.
A statement from Nangarhar's Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock said the lemons were pest-infested and were returned to Pakistan by the quarantine administration. The department also noted that similar consignments of substandard produce had previously been sent back at the Torkham border on multiple occasions.
Source: AAJ News