ISLAMABAD, March 30: The country may suffer a considerable loss in foreign exchange earnings this fiscal year as fruit exports may drop by around 50 per cent than the previous year.

Official figures, compiled by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS), showed that fruit exports registered a decline of 37.43 per cent during the July-Dec period of the fiscal year 2006-07 as compared to the corresponding period last year.

In absolute term, fruit exports stood at $48.155 million during the same period against $62.056 million during the corresponding period of last year.

According to Pakistan Horticulture Development Export Board (PHDEB), shortage of fruits, particularly mango and citrus due to less production, was responsible for the slump in export.

The weather conditions remained unfavourable for fruit crops. Although, mango exports achieved the target of 80,000 tons. However, it was 20 per cent less than the last year’s target of 100,000 tons.

The report said viruses that attacked the crops also caused serious production loss. However, the government did not launch awareness campaigns against virus and pest attack, which were rigorously undertaken in the case of cotton and other cash crops.

During the last 16 years, 1990-91 to 2005-06, production of certain fruits increased. Citrus increased from 1.6 to 2.3 million tons, mango from 0.8 to 1.9 million tons and apple from 243,000 to 375,000 tons.

Apricot production increased from 81,000 to 220,000 tons, grapes from 33,000 to 50,000 tons and guava from 355,000 to 593,000 tons. Banana production decreased from 202,000 to 151,000 tons and almond from 32,000 to 23,000 tons.

During the same period, export of fruits increased from 112,000 tons to 262,000 tons. In value terms, it increased from Rs935 million to Rs5, 394 million. The point is that during this period the quantity of export increased by 134 per cent only, showing an increase of 8.4 per cent per annum.

This indicated lack of aggressive marketing, but in value terms it increased by 477 per cent or 30 per cent per annum. Pakistan’s fruit exports further increased from Rs4,202 million to Rs5,394 million in 2005-06.