OKARA, March 16: Potato growers have urged the Punjab government to establish an exports' processing zone in the district on the pattern of the one for citrus in Bhalwal.

The demand was made by growers' representatives, Rao Ikram Ali Khan, Liaqat Ali Batalvi, fruit and vegetable market president Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf and fruit and vegetable forum's representative Chaudhry Maqsood Jat.

They pointed out that Okara district was the biggest potato' producer as it produced more than 25 per cent of the total produce of the country. They thanked the Punjab government for arranging a grant of Rs80 million from the federal government and Rs12.5 million from its own funds for a subsidy on potatoes' export.

They also clarified that the higher rate this year was due to a 10 to 15 per cent decrease in the crop yield and not due to export of potatoes to Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

They said the process of getting refunds was very difficult for exporters while ships were also not available. Besides, exporters had to bear added expenditure for washing potatoes at Karachi. These were the reasons an EPZ for potatoes was needed in Okara, they maintained.