The Afghanistan National Saffron Union said that the saffron harvest in Herat will  double this year.

Based on the statistics of the union, nearly forty tons of saffron are expected to be harvested in Herat this year.

Meanwhile, the annual Festival of Saffron Flower has been held in Herat.

During the saffron harvest season, the annual festival of saffron flowers was held in Herat.

The saffron farmers of Herat have displayed their fresh saffron in 40 booths here at the Department of Agriculture in Herat city.

According to the country's national saffron union, this year's saffron harvest in Herat has doubled compared to last year.

“Considering the unprecedented cultivation that has been done in Herat province this year, we can claim that we will probably break the 40-ton limit,” said Bashir Ahmad Rashidi, head of Afghanistan National Saffron Union.

“Almost 20,000 people are engaged in saffron cultivation, and the saffron is better this year than last year,” said Peer Mohammad Halimi, Herat's director of agriculture and irrigation.

While the harvest of saffron in the country has increased, a number of saffron farmers said that the problems in exporting "red gold" abroad are still a serious challenge.

“Very little is exported with special packaging and with the name of Afghan companies, for example, we export to India and Turkey, then they sell to international markets under their own name,” said Abdulshukor Eisar, a saffron farmer.

“Based on the sanctions imposed on Afghanistan, we have problems in transferring money through global banking systems, and we hope to overcome these problems witn the lifting the sanctions,” said Mohammad Yousuf Amin, executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment of Herat.

More than 80% of saffron cultivation, harvesting and preparation in Herat is done by women and girls.

“Restrictions should be reduced and women should be able to participate in exhibitions so that we can market the products we produce,” said Ghunchagul Karimi, an exhibitor.

Afghan saffron has many customers in the international markets. India, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Spain have been the biggest buyers of saffron in the country this year.

In the past year, more than twenty tons of the country's "red gold" worth 21 million dollars have been exported to these countries.