GILGIT-Baltistan produces ample fruit. However, owing to our farmers’ archaic harvesting, storage, marketing, packing and transportation practices, most of this fruit goes to waste.

Apricot, cherries and pears cannot be preserved for long after picking. Modern packaging and transportation facilities are lacking in our area. According to one estimate, roughly 70 per cent of the apricot crop in Ghizer district alone fails to reach any market. Similarly, a sizable portion of the almond and walnut crop also goes to waste.

Markets of Gilgit-Baltistan this year are overflowing with almonds, apples, pears and grapes from China. Their cheaper price, bigger size and better packaging are giving stiff competition to the local fruit sector. The only downside to the Chinese fruit is that it is tasteless as it is mostly grown by chemical fertilisers.

Thankfully, there is some ray of hope, as some NGOs, like the Local Support Organization under the supervision of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, with the collaboration of GB government’s Agriculture Department, are giving training to some farmers for better fruit production and marketing. The International Fund for Agricultural Development is also working in GB to develop the agriculture sector to increase productivity.

The Mountain Area Fruit Farmers’ Association of Gilgit-Baltistan exports fruits after purchasing them from farmers at better rates. As a result some farmers are beginning to get better returns on their investment. Nevertheless, more needs to be done.

The agriculture department and NGOs should provide training to farmers and ensure the supply of necessary tools and other inputs. Fruit processing centres should be set up in every district to prepare pickles, jams and juices that can be supplied all over Pakistan and also exported.

Karim Mohammad Khan

District Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2017