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 million

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

30,822

producer households benefit commercially (84,842 get market access within 60 min)

181,818

underserved rural people get market access within 60 min

239

direct jobs, base case (+382 indirect jobs)

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 within 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 within 60 min: 14,350

31.0054, 66.3979

#	Site	District	Likely role	Lat, Lon	To nearest existing market	Producer HH within 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, household enterprises, small processors and traders

Crafts: Embroidery (khamak), carpets

Market catchment and accessibility Estimated

Site	HH within 30 min	HH 30–60 min	HH 60–90 min	Producer HH within 60 min	Commercially 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. Underserved % is the share of rural people within 60 minutes of the candidate site who are currently more than 60 minutes from an existing market. Commercially addressable households refer to producer HH.

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 million	US$ 927,000	US$ 4.5 million	139	222
Base	20%	US$ 7.1 million	US$ 1.9 million	US$ 8.9 million	239	382
High	30%	US$ 10.6 million	US$ 2.8 million	US$ 13.4 million	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