Former Chairman of FPCCI Standing Committee on Horticulture Exports and renowned Horticulturist, Chaudhry Ahmad Jawad has expressed hope that Kinnow exports may hit around 400,000 tons in the coming season as this year crop is in appropriate condition and timely rains helped to increase the productivity of the produce.
Finally after the intervention of the Federal Government and Punjab Government, the revised kinnow rate which has been fixed at Rs 1000 per mound is a good omen for farmers and it also helps to increase kinnow exports in the coming season which will be commence from December 1, he said.
He said Pakistan Fruit Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA) rejection on revised rate of kinnow was unjustified, though Deputy Commissioner Sargodha taken the decision of the revised rate unanimously after series of detailed meetings. In the final meeting; Exporters, representatives of PFVA, farmers and Parliamentarians were part of that when official rate was fixed.
Despite the fact, kinnow growers association have demanded Rs 1200 per mound earlier in the response of utter unique decision by PFVA members regarding kinnow rate of Rs 600 per mound few months back for the coming season without taking stakeholders on board.
He said, "We must understand that Kinnow taste is different from all mandarins around the globe because of the salt range near sargodha, which makes it unique. We must accommodate farmers to continue the production of kinnow because every year farmers are switching to other fruits and crops which is alarming."
However, dollar rate was around Rs 120 when the rate was fixed Rs 850 in previous season. Now the dollar is of Rs 157 and kinnow factories are still getting at Rs 1000 per mound where agriculture input prices were gone up. "Included in remittances, exporters get more Pak Rupee's too now".
Jawad also pointed Ministry of National Food Security Parliamentary Secretary clearly stated on the floor of the house that's it's a provincial subject and we already sent the letter to Punjab government in the response of calling attention notice submitted by respected parliamentarians.
Similarly, in the second phase of CPEC may help kinnow exports another kick to tap the big market of China with full potential where Prime Minister Imran Khan was the Chief Guest in the International Horticulture Expo held at China.
He said that China is a market for a minimum of 100,000 tonnes of Pakistani kinnow due to their high demand and it depends how we tap this big opportunity with the help of PHDEC.
He said kinnow have always been considered as a traditional symbol of good fortune in China. This is mainly because the word orange, when spoken in mandarin, sounds similar to the word "wealth". The orange hue of the fruit is also said to symbolise "gold", which makes it a very auspicious fruit.
He also briefed that Pakistan already managed to find out two new markets for citrus export as Philippines and China are open for Pakistan's citrus fruits now. "It is very heartening to note that Pakistan has targeted China and Philippines markets for kinnow export and expected boost in kinnow export is about 20 percent this year."
It may note here calling attention notice has been served earlier by the Parliamentarians before National Assembly (NA) of Pakistan on kinnow rate for farmers and seek clarification from Minister of National Food and Security.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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