Fruit, Vegetable exporters hail proposed revival of PHDEC

KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has supported proposed revival of Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC).

Regional Chairman of the FPCCI Horticulture Exports Committee, Ahmad Jawad in a statement here on Wednesday appreciated the interest taken by the federal minister of commerce in revival of the defunct organisation and help strengthen fruits exports of the country.

"PHDEC can definitely help boost exports of horticulture products, provided proper and regular vigil was kept on the performance of the company," he said.

The FPCCI official said, as per decision of the Ministry of Commerce, the meeting with main agriculture and horticulture exporters must be convened to work out recommendations for PHDEC revival and drawing a roadmap for increasing fruit exports.

Ahmad Jawad said that PHDEC, as per its objectives, ought to work on improvement of quality by ensuring strict regulatory mechanism, pre-shipment inspection ensuring reliability for Pakistan's fresh produce exports in the international market.

The Regional Chairman, FPCCI's Horticulture Exports Committee suggested formation of a task force to help raise exports of mango, kinnow and other fruits and also to make recommendations for the revival of PHDEC.

In particular context of kinnow export for the coming season (2017-18), Jawad crop is not bumper this year due to sudden hail storms and less rains in the area.

However since the quality of fruit is quite stable therefore Kinnow Farmers of Sargodha district will be able to clinch ex-farm rate at Rs 20 per kg as decided by the stakeholders and needed to be implemented under the supervision of local administration.

He urged the Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA), specifically kinnow exporters, to support the decision regarding ex-farm rate of kinnow.

This, he said was important as concerned farmers have suffered badly during past two consecutive years due to effects of climate change.