RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchant Association (PFVA) has set export target of 250,000 metric tons Kinnow for this year.

The export target has been revised downward due to quality and cost factors. The set target is even less than previous year’s exports of 280,000 metric tons due to various issues related to export of Kinnow to Russian and Iranian markets during the current year.

Exporters said that attainment of export target of 250,000 tons during the current season would largely depend upon favourable weather conditions and political stability in the country. Frequent sit-ins, processions and protest movements would have bad impact on trade activities and likely continuation during the current export season of Kinnow would make it quite difficult to achieve the desired export target,” they added.

Waheed Ahmed chairman PFVA research committee informed on Monday that exports of Kinnow have commenced from December 01 and the export target during the current year has been set as 250,000 tons.

“The Kinnow exports have been experiencing numerous which had led to consistent decline in its export since the year 2014-15. A record 375,000 metric tons Kinnow was exported in year 2014-15, however even  export  target of 300,000 tons could not be attained during last year  as overall exports were limited to 280,000 tons,” he added.

The decline in export of Kinnow can be attributed to lack of interest on part of government of Punjab, high cost of production, stiff competition and various trade barriers imposed by Iran, Europe and Russia. For the last six years, Kinnow could not be exported to Iran due to reluctance in issuance of import Permit by Iranian Government, he mentioned.

In addition, import valuation of Pakistani Kinnow has been increased by $ 3 per 10 kgs by Russian government and this unrealistically assessment has makes it almost impossible to compete with Egypt, Morocco and Turkey, Waheed informed.

Demand of Pakistani Kinnow in the international markets is on sharp decline due to poor appearance, too many seeds and infection due to Canker. Pakistan taking initiative had “self-imposed” temporary embargo on export of Kinnow to Europe and UK in year 2014 and thus averted likely ban on import of Kinnow by these countries, he added.

He said that PFVA is emphasizing for significance and immediate need for Research & Development (R&D) for last several years to improve quality of Kinnow but despite the fact that more than 90 percent area of cultivation of crops of Kinnow is in Punjab, which did not pay attention to this poor fruit, it needed, he revealed.

He informed that the overall production of Kinnow during the current season is anticipated to be between 1.9 million to 2 million tons, however due to production of small size Kinnow in abundance, export to Russia has assumed special significance where this size is in great demand.

During the recent fifth inter-ministerial meeting between Pakistan and Russia, it was mutually agreed to give more access of Pakistani Agriculture produces to Russian market and removal of tariff and NTBs. However, the concerned ministries of Pakistan would also be required to play an instrumental role for implementation of this agreement, Waheed revealed.

PFVA has demanded freight subsidy that will enable exporters to encounter stiff competition from Egypt, Turkey and Morocco. Issuance of quota in December during the current season by the Indonesian government would lead to further enhancement of export of Pakistani Kinnow. He informed that with export of Kinnow from 1stDecember 2017 as of now 800 Kinnow containers weighing 20,000 tons have been exported to Russia, Dubai, Philippine, Sri-Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Saudi Arab, Canada, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka & UAE, etc.

Stressing upon the government of Punjab, Waheed Ahmed emphasized the need for an immediate actions on war- footing basis to improve quality of Kinnow. Otherwise Kinnow factories providing jobs to millions of work force would shut down leading to remarkable reduction of$200 million in export revenue and investment of billion of rupees would be washed away.