Province 15 of 34 | South

Kandahar کندهار

Kandahar is the pomegranate and grape heartland, with border trade through Spin Boldak. Cold chain and grading at rural markets protect the value of perishable exports.

Capital: Kandahar
Region: South
Area: 54,381 km²
Population 2025–26: 1,567,980
Density: 29 per km²
Districts: 16

Map of candidate marketplace sites and their road catchments in Kandahar — Orange pin: candidate site. Olive shading: 60-minute catchment (dotted line: 30 minutes). Square: provincial center. Circle: existing market. Brown shading: population density.

US$ 8.9 m

base-case annual turnover (range US$ 4.5 m to US$ 13.4 m)

30,822

addressable producer households (84,842 within 60 min)

181,818

underserved rural people brought within 60 min

239

direct jobs, base case (+382 indirect)

Potential marketplace network Estimated

1Pasab Market town

District: Zhari

Aggregation hub linking to wholesale buyers

To nearest existing market: 27 km, 32 min

Producer HH ≤60 min: 70,491

31.5735, 65.4284
2Spin Boldak Market town

District: Spin Boldak

Producer marketplace and aggregation center

To nearest existing market: 86 km, 105 min

Producer HH ≤60 min: 14,350

31.0054, 66.3979

#	Site	District	Likely role	Lat, Lon	To nearest existing market	Producer HH ≤60 min
1	Pasab Market town	Zhari	Aggregation hub linking to wholesale buyers	31.5735, 65.4284	27 km 32 min	70,491
2	Spin Boldak Market town	Spin Boldak	Producer marketplace and aggregation center	31.0054, 66.3979	86 km 105 min	14,350

Local products and producer groups Strong secondary

Pomegranate
Grape & raisin
Almond & fig
Wheat
Melon
Sheep & goats

Farming system: High-value tree crops (US$ 1,150 sales per participating household)

Producer groups: smallholder farmers, livestock and dairy keepers, women's household enterprises, small processors and traders

Crafts: Embroidery (khamak), carpets

Market catchment and accessibility Estimated

Site	HH ≤30 min	HH 30–60 min	HH 60–90 min	Producer HH ≤60 min	Addressable	Underserved
1 Pasab	43,585	94,570	18,549	70,491	17,277	10%
2 Spin Boldak	14,215	2,099	8,117	14,350	13,545	100%

HH = households of 7.7 people (ALCS 2016–17). The primary indicator is producer households within 60 minutes by road.

Infrastructure requirements

Road accessEstimated
Current situation: All 2 sites on a main road
Hard-standing, parking and safe entry from the highway
ElectricityStrong secondary
Current situation: Grid reaches about 40% of Afghans nationally; rural sites mostly off-grid
Solar plus battery for lighting, weighing, phone charging and cold rooms; grid tie where a line passes
Solar potentialStrong secondary
Current situation: About 300 sunny days a year; high irradiance nationwide
Rooftop PV on market sheds (indicative 20 to 60 kWp per site)
Internet & mobileAssumption
Current situation: Mobile connections equal 52% of the population; district centers usually covered
Mobile money and price-information kiosk; verify signal on site
Dry storageEstimated
Current situation: Few formal stores outside provincial centers
Warehouse for pomegranate, grape & raisin with pallets and pest control
Cold storageEstimated
Current situation: Rare outside major cities
Solar cold room or evaporative store for fruit, vegetables and dairy
Water, sanitation & loadingAssumption
Current situation: Not assessed at site level
Borehole, washing area, separate latrines for women and men; loading bays, livestock pens, certified scales

Infrastructure	Current situation	Requirement	Evidence status
Road access	All 2 sites on a main road	Hard-standing, parking and safe entry from the highway	Estimated
Electricity	Grid reaches about 40% of Afghans nationally; rural sites mostly off-grid	Solar plus battery for lighting, weighing, phone charging and cold rooms; grid tie where a line passes	Strong secondary
Solar potential	About 300 sunny days a year; high irradiance nationwide	Rooftop PV on market sheds (indicative 20 to 60 kWp per site)	Strong secondary
Internet & mobile	Mobile connections equal 52% of the population; district centers usually covered	Mobile money and price-information kiosk; verify signal on site	Assumption
Dry storage	Few formal stores outside provincial centers	Warehouse for pomegranate, grape & raisin with pallets and pest control	Estimated
Cold storage	Rare outside major cities	Solar cold room or evaporative store for fruit, vegetables and dairy	Estimated
Water, sanitation & loading	Not assessed at site level	Borehole, washing area, separate latrines for women and men; loading bays, livestock pens, certified scales	Assumption

Economic opportunity and employment Estimated Assumption

Scenario	Participation	Producer sales	Other trading	Total turnover	Direct jobs	Indirect jobs
Low	10%	US$ 3.5 m	US$ 927 k	US$ 4.5 m	139	222
Base	20%	US$ 7.1 m	US$ 1.9 m	US$ 8.9 m	239	382
High	30%	US$ 10.6 m	US$ 2.8 m	US$ 13.4 m	338	541

Site columns are summed. The total is de-duplicated where catchments overlap.

Evidence

Population: strong secondary province totals, estimated catchments. Travel time: estimated from the OpenStreetMap road model. Products: strong secondary. Turnover and jobs: assumption parameters applied to estimated households. Site conditions: unknown until field validation.

Open these pages in the PDF (37–38) | Method, assumptions and sources