KARACHI: Pakistan is expected to cultivate 2 million tons of kinnows during the current season (November 2011- March 2012), while fruit exporters have set an export target of 300,000 tons of kinnows for 2011, according to chairman, all Pakistan fruit and vegetable importers, exporters and merchants association (PFVMA) Waheed Ahmed. The exporters claim that the national exchequer stands to earn up to $200 million if the export target is met.
However, kinnow exporters have complained that shipping companies caused losses worth more than $0.35 million, last year to them because of delays in shipment and they fear that a similar fate awaits exporters, this year.
A press release issued by the association on Monday, appealed the federal ministry of commerce to take urgent steps to ensure that export consignments of kinnow and other perishables from Pakistan are delivered on time. The association has called on the government to impose heavy fines and penalties against shipping companies which cause losses to local exporters by delaying their shipments.
Chairman PFVMA contended that shipping delays kept the country from achieving its kinnow export target of 260,000 tons as only 215,000 tons of the locally cultivated citrus fruit were exported, during last year.
Waheed Ahmed also said that smuggling of kinnows to Iran has badly affected the export sector adding that at present, “eighty percent of the kinnows exported to Iran are being smuggled through illegal channels”. He called on the government to take concrete measures to curtail smuggling of kinnow and other products across the borders to Iran, Afghanistan and other destinations.
Ahmed also highlighted that severe weather conditions and the dearth of storage capacity pose dire risks to the local production of fruits and vegetables.
PFVMA has announced its intent to tap new markets in China and African countries in order to boost exports of fruits and vegetables from Pakistan. Chairman PFVMA recalled that China had allowed kinnow imports from the country four years ago, however so far shipments to China have remained insignificantly low.
The association has called on Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to help market Pakistani produce in China and other markets to ensure that the current season meets expectations and the export target is achieved.
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