'Pulping unit in implementation stage'

Another business plan for pulping unit is in implementation stage, said Muhammad Uzair, management associate at Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Karachi. According to press release issued here, the proposed project has been designed as a medium-scale processing unit.
It describes the processing facilities for tomato paste and pulps of fruits like apple, mango and guava, etc, with processing capacity of 5-10 ton per hour of fresh tomato/fruits. Assistance on this business plan was provided by Maharoop Sheri, another management associate at SMEDA.
Introduction of vegetable and fruit processing facilities in the country can contribute towards reducing the dependence of local industry on imported tomato paste. The paste is currently being imported mainly from China, Turkey and Iran. In Pakistan, the processing of vegetables and fruit products is a viable and profitable business opportunity that is yet to be fully exploited. Agricultural sector is the backbone of the country's economy employing 44 percent of the workforce. Nature has blessed Pakistan with an ideal climate for growing a large variety of vegetables and fruits. Agricultural sector is directly or indirectly contributing 25 percent towards GDP.
According to Agriculture Department, 30 percent of vegetables/fruits are wasted due to the negligence and lack of processing facilities, which could convert them into non-perishable form, permitting its transportation and storage without wastage. Currently the growers are not familiar with latest processing techniques that can add value to the products and bring lot of foreign exchange through exports.-PR