ISLAMABAD, May 14: Exporters are yet to develop and adopt a mutual code of conduct for the implementation of a pre-shipment inspection scheme designed by the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) to save the country's agricultural exports from ban by other countries by ensuring good quality.
Sources in the agriculture ministry told Dawn that the inability of the exporters to support the scheme practically is one of the main reasons behind the inability of the commerce ministry and the PHDEB to move various countries, including Russia, Mexico and the European Union (EU), for lifting of ban on import of Pakistani agriculture products. They said that the PHDEB had recently taken up, through the Ministry of Commerce, the issue of Russian ban on import of kinoo and potatoes with the Russian authorities, who visited Pakistan.
However, the quality and grading standards designed by the PHDEB are not being implemented, which is a source of constant frustration for the PHDEB and the commerce ministry and was hampering their legal and diplomatic battles against such bans by a number of countries.
The Russian ban had come after the federation's bad experience with the Pakistani rice infestation since December 2006 and the inability of the Pakistani exporters to prove to the Russians that they have improved the quality of their exports after receiving constant warnings.
Sources said that Pakistani exporters can still re-start their export of rice to Russia within the next half a year if they abide by the PHDEB rules regarding packing and post-harvest quality standards.
Russia is the second country, after Mexico, which has imposed ban on rice imports from Pakistan on charges of Khapra Beetle. In December 2006, Russia banned rice imports from Pakistan, Vietnam and India and announced that the ban would continue until these countries provide sufficient information about their rice quality, laboratories and quality certificates.
The officials of Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Services (VPSS) visited Pakistan to discuss this issue on April 23. Sources said the Russian side had demanded the Pakistani exporters to adopt the system of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and the EurepGAP--Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group; Good Agricultural Practices - if they wanted Russia to left the ban.
The HACCP is a systematic preventative approach to food safety that addresses physical, chemical and biological hazards as a means of prevention rather than finished product inspection. It is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards, so that key actions, known as Critical Control Points (CCP's) can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of the hazards being realised. The system is used at all stages of food production and preparation processes.
Sources said now the PHDEB has asked all the exporters to ensure that HACCP is implemented in all processing units. They said that growers and the horticulture board have also recommended that by 2010 all plants should obtain HACCP certification and source kinoo from orchards, which should implement GAP and preferably obtain EurepGAP certification.
According to an estimate, the total value of agriculture crops at current factor is Rs407.623 billion, and minor crops, including horticulture Rs142.645 billion. The horticulture crops (fruits, vegetables and condiments) alone contribute Rs116.645 billion, which is 26 per cent of the total value of all crops and 81.8 per cent of the total value of minor crops.
Pakistan produces annually about 13 million tons fruit and vegetables, of which the production of kinoo is over two million tons. The current export of fruits and vegetables is estimated at about 500,000 tons, valued at about $170 million. Kinoo, mangoes and dates are prominent among fruits and potato and onion among vegetables. Kinoo export has shown an overall increasing trend.
During the year 2005-06, Pakistan made highest ever exports of about 200,000 tons kinoo. Iran and China are the emerging markets. A chartered vessel of kinoo was exported to Iran recently.
However, despite all such potentials, the country's agriculture exports are still at a greater risk if the growers don't realise the importance of quality and standards being implemented in Europe and other developed countries.