“Better late than never” has recently been practically demonstrated by the Pakistan Horticultural Development and Export Board by constituting various groups that would manage to promote the cultivation of horticulture products in accordance with world demand.

Perhaps it is for the first time in the history of Pakistan agriculture that an objective approach is being adopted to promote the so far neglacted subsector of horticulture.

Some lop-sided steps had no doubt been taken by the successive governments in the past which had also yielded some results. But what has been lacking is the scientific and objective approach which the Pakistan Horticultural Development and Export Board has now ventured to adopt.

Pakistan has been providing and exporting sizeable volumes of fruits and vegetables each year. But both production and export of these commodities are not stable. Efforts were made in 1980 to broaden their export base by allowing the export of green vegetables which could not be exported before because of their feared shortage and highly perishable nature. They included lady-finger (okra), carrot, radish, cauliflowers, brinjal, asparagus, peas / beans, cucumber, turnip, pumkin, larg-sized green chillies and artichoke. But these exports could not be diversified beyond Gulf States due to the lack of quality standards and proper transport facilities.

Similarly, in 1993, a project known as “fruit and vegetable marketing project” financially assisted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was launched. It had three components viz (i) market information improvement, (ii) market development and (iii) post- harvest technology improvement. The market information improvement was the joint responsibility of the federal and the provincial governments while the remaining two were to be looked after by the proincial government concerned agencies.

Unfortunately, this project, well concieved, could not reach to its ultimate logical stage, although some headway could be made to the three componants by way of standardising certain market information forms training of the information collecting agencies,selection of suitable sites for construction of modern fruit and vegatable markets.

Now the present action of the Pakistan Horticultural Development and Export Board (PHDEB) by way of constituting specific groups having representation of exporters, processers and farmers for bringing overall improvement in the horticultural subsectors augurs well. But the contemplated results can only be achieved provided various groups come to the desired expectations through hard work and scientific purpose. In this regard the PHDEB shall have to gird up its loins to complete the project after taking into consideration the suggestion and recommendation of various groups constituted by it.

By the grace of God Almighty Pakistan has been endowed with such climatic and soil conditions that it can grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and with only a small effort in this regard the production of horticultural commodities can be increased manifolds. At the same time lot of foreign exchange can be earned through the export of their surplus production which can improve the economic situation of both the farmers and country at large.

Although some commandable work is presently being done individually and collectively for export of fruit and vegetable, but in the case of flower exports the country is lagging for behind the other flower-producing countries.

Pakistan produces defferent kinds of flowers in different regions in varying volumes. An a matter of fact flower-farming is neither capital nor labour intensive.However it needs skilled labour force and modern farming techniques. Investment in this sub-sector is flowing which is evident from the increased number of nurseries, green houses, flower markets and auction centres. Production of of cut-flower is presently estimated at 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes per annum.

The unique aspect of flower lies in the fact that it is useful both in fresh and dried conditions. In fresh condition flowers are used in garlands, bouquets, wreaths and in dried condition they are a natural source of essence to be used in various food producrs. It therefore seems necessary that the PHDEB should plan its action in such a way that the neglected regime of flower export may get some fillip..

Further, there is a need for collaboration between private and public development programmes, particularly in the use of tecnology and focus on improving existing planting material keeping in view the demand for exportable quality. Efforts are also required to improve grading, packing and product preparation.

For this purpose the growers and pre-harvest contractor may be trained to adoption of improved methods. If the PHDEB is able to perform its duties in a scientific manner it can stabilize the output and export of the horticultural poducts in a short period.