KABUL (SW) – As the weather gets cooler, residents of Kabul are increasingly anxious about the upcoming winter, compounded by the rising costs of firewood and low purchasing power. Many are struggling to heat their homes due to financial constraints.
Hussain Ali, a resident of western Kabul and a vendor, expressed his concerns, saying, “I haven’t bought any warm clothes or firewood yet; it is priced at 12,500 afghanis per 300 kilograms, which I simply can’t afford.” With six children to care for, Hussain Ali is worried about how to manage the high costs of firewood while also providing winter clothing for his family.
Wood sellers in Kabul have reported a significant increase in firewood prices compared to last year. Currently, 300 kilograms of oak wood is selling for 12,500 Afghanis, up from 8,000 to 9,000 afghanis the previous year.
The rising cost of firewood has become a major concern for economically disadvantaged citizens, as they are faced with the dual challenge of needing to heat their homes during winter while also dealing with unreliable and expensive electricity in Kabul.
Another resident, Mir Agha, who has five children, mentioned that he has resorted to cobbling shoes during the day and collecting burnable waste at night to prepare for winter. He lamented, “We have neither firewood nor coal. Prices have skyrocketed; at night, I collect paper and bottles. If there’s no firewood, I’ll have to burn those.”
Some wood sellers attribute the price hikes to a ban on cutting down forests. Sayed Moqim, a wood seller in Kabul’s Taimani area, explained, “Since cutting down forests has been prohibited, oak prices have risen. Demand is incredibly high, but supply is limited, worsening the situation for people.”
Sajad Amiri, another wood seller, noted that “oak wood is selling for 12,500 afghanis, while red and yellow wood cost about 11,500 afghanis. Fruit woods like mulberry and walnut are priced between 7,000 to 9,000 afghanis.
Some sellers also indicated that illegal wood smuggling is contributing to the problem and are calling for the de-facto government to establish a pricing framework. Amir, a wood seller in Kabul, claimed that “certain mafia groups have hoarded firewood, purchasing it at 4,500 afghanis and selling it for 10,000 afghanis.
Amir Mohammad Kabuli, head of Kabul’s wood sellers’ union, confirmed the high prices and stated that they have proposed a pricing framework to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, which is currently under review. He noted that “the price of coal has decreased compared to last year, with a bag costing 1,200 afghanis, while the rise in wood prices is linked to deforestation issues that need addressing”.
According to union officials, last year’s market price for 300 kg of wood ranged from 8,000 to 9,000 afghanis, but due to a lack of imports this year, the price has risen to 13,000 afghanis, marking an increase of 3,000 afghanis from the previous year.
