The decline in peanut production in the Mastchoh District of Sughd Provincen has been linked to political changes in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s rise to power. This was stated by the district head, Azam Alizoda, at a news conference on January 26.
According to him, before the change of power in the neighboring country, up to 30 percent of peanuts produced in the district were exported to Afghanistan or transported through its territory to Iran. However, after the Taliban came to power, exports came to a complete halt, causing significant losses for local farmers.
“Currently, farmers are storing peanut harvests from the past two years in warehouses. Each year, the district produces between 8,000 and 12,000 tons of peanuts, volumes that cannot be fully absorbed by the domestic market. We are working with local entrepreneurs, and 20 to 30 tons of peanuts are shipped weekly to Dushanbe and Khatlon Province, but this is not sufficient,” Alizoda said.
He also noted that Russia, which banned the import of peanuts from Tajikistan last year, has lifted the restriction this year.
“At present, entrepreneurs from Isfara, Istaravshan, and Bobojon-Ghafourov districts are purchasing peanuts in Mastchoh for export to Russia,” the district head added.
Alizoda reported that in 2025, peanut production in Mastchoh totaled 8,600 tons, down from previous years. He attributed the reduction in cultivated areas primarily to the narrowing of export markets.
Peanuts are an oilseed crop rich in oil and protein and are widely used in the food and vegetable oil industries.
Mastchoh District is considered one of Tajikistan’s main peanut-producing areas. According to official data, more than 90 percent of all peanut production in Sughd Province comes from this district.