KARACHI: The country fetched $200 million by exporting 350,000 tonnes of kinno, surpassing the target of 325,000 tonnes, this season so far, with more shipments are on their way.

In the last season, kinno exports stood at 315,000 tonnes earning $170 million. Kinno exports get underway from December and usually come to an end in March.

Waheed said unless diseases related to kinno were addressed the upward trend of exports may not be maintained.

Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) Co-Chairman Waheed Ahmed on Saturday claimed that for the first time no kinno shipment found its way to the European countries due to the strict phytosanitary requirements.

“The European Union does not accept any shipments carrying canker disease. Fearing a ban, the exporters avoided the region,” he explained.

However, last season some 150 containers carrying 26 tonnes each were sent to European countries.

He said that Russia turned out to be a major buyer procuring 100,000 tonnes of the fruit.

Other buyers included the Middle East, Far East, Bangladesh, Central Asia and some African countries.

Pakistan produced around 2.1 million tonnes of kinno this season.

He said that there were serious apprehensions about the traditional production, processing and packaging which no longer help in increasing kinno demand on the international markets.

Only new varieties of disease-free kinno can compete in the lucrative markets, he said.

To deal with this challenge, the government and stakeholders are needed to collaborate for research and development in the sector, ensuring application of new techniques of farming, processing, packaging, good agriculture practices and others.

“One billion dollars worth export of kinno, introducing new varieties and value-added products is not a big task in near future, provided the required steps are taken,” Waheed said.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2015

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