ISLAMABAD: Agro-based exports from the country, including fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat, wheat flour, and others have registered a tremendous increase during last three years.
The country exported about 5552 thousand tons of food commodities worth Rs. 23.677 billion during the last financial year, 3911 thousand tons during 2008-09 and 3861 million tons worth Rs.14.33 billion in 2007-08.
The rice export crossed 4.179 million tons during the last financial year as compared to 2.809 million tons in 2007-08 and 2.729 million tons in 2008-09.
By exporting rice, the country earned Rs. 183.37 billion during last year, Rs. 117.08 billion in 2007-08 and Rs. 154.76 billion in 2008-09.
Meanwhile, the export of fruits and vegetable was 1167.2 thousand tons during 2009-10, 906.3 thousand tons in 2008-09 and 652 thousand tons in 2007-08.
The country earned Rs. 16.365 billion during 2009-10 by exporting 160.1 thousand tons of raw cotton last year, Rs. 1.636 billion by exporting 78.2 thousand tons during 2008-09 and Rs. Rs. 6.82 billion from the export 55.9 thousand tons raw cotton in 2007-08.
The export of Halal food products had also increased as about 121.449 million kg halal food products worth Rs. 36.14 billion were exported during the last financial year.
In the meantime, the import of food commodities registered a negative trend during last three years.The import of tea decreased with 94.5 million tons during last financial year as compared to 100.4 million tons during 2008-09.
The import of soybean oil also decreased with 26.9 million tons last year against 91.8 million tons during year 2008-09.
The agro-based industry has a huge potential to excel in the international market by adopting the modern technology of processing and packing and international standards of hygiene.
It may be recalled that this year Pakistan will introduce mangoes in the markets of United States and Japan, which will not only fetch foreign exchange for the country but will benefit the growers also.
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