Japan wants to import Basmati rice, establish mutual agri-research

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Japan Matsuda Kuninori on Monday showed keen interest for developing mutual agricultural research and importing Basmati rice from Pakistan in order to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The ambassador called on Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam and discussed ways and means to enhance mutual cooperation in different sectors, said a press release issue here.

The minister also stressed the need for enhancing mutual cooperation in transfer of technology from Japan particularly agricultural machinery. Imam asked for providing market access of Pakistani citrus in Japan based on historical trade of citrus fruit with China, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Iran.

He said that cold treatment prescribed in US treatment manual and acceptable to China, Russia, Iran and no non-compliance ever received against this treatment from these countries.

He said that it worked well to eliminate all fruit flies from our (mandarin) Kinnow and also admired Kobe beef of Japan. Matsuda Kuninori mentioned that Pakistani mango was more fragrant and showed interest in export of Basmati Rice from Pakistan.

Pakistan exported 3847 thousand USD of Basmati Rice last year to Japan, he added. The Japanese ambassador also showed interest in developing mutual agricultural research.

He said that Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Japan had granted market access to fresh Pakistani mango, which was subject to offshore disinfestation treatment, sterilization at a temperature of 47 C or higher for 25 minutes using saturated steam at vapour heat treatment facility dully approved by DPP and National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Japan and pre-clearance program by Japanese Inspectors.

The export of Pakistani mango fruit (Sindhri & Chaunsa) from Pakistan to Japan is underway.