Afghanistan has returned 15 tonnes of lemons imported from Pakistan after authorities found them infected with citrus canker and deemed them unfit for consumption.

According to Afghan media, Nangarhar’s provincial director of agriculture, Maulvi Wali Mohsin, has 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 necessary to protect both consumers and the market from losses.

Experts describe citrus canker as a highly destructive disease affecting woody plants, especially citrus fruits. It can cause severe damage to commercial varieties, particularly kinnow and lemons, leading to leaf drop, twig dieback, and premature fruit fall. Infected fruits lose their market value or become entirely unsellable.

The disease is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri and is prevalent in many citrus-producing countries, including Pakistan. Its severity varies depending on 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 noted that similar consignments of substandard produce had been sent back at the Torkham border on multiple occasions in the past.