ISLAMABAD – Pakistani Kinnow growers and exporters face a setback.
All Pakistan fruit and vegetable exporters, importers and MerchantsAssociation (PFVA) has set current year export target of Kinnow to 325,000tons by reducing 50,000 tons compared to the last year.
The export of Kinnow is due to commence from 1st December 2018. Productionof Kinnow during this year is expected to be around 2 million metric tons,however due to limited availability of good quality of exportable Kinnow,the export target has been curtailed this year.
According to Waheed Ahmed Patron-in-Chief –PFVA & Vice President-FPCCI arecord export volume of 375000 tons was attained during last year fetchingforeign exchange of US$ 200 million while with the current export volume of325000 tons, the country is expected to earn foreign exchange of US$ 180million.
Read Top Stories
Due to high cost of production of Citrus fruit and with stiff competitionwith big exporters of Citrus fruits namely – Turkey , Morocco and other bibproducers of Citrus Fruits in the International markets, Pakistan isconfronted with real tough competition – Waheed deplored.
The devaluation of Pakistani currency has lost it’s favorable impact due toupward revision of freight charges by the shipping companies, rise in costof packing material and substantial increase in local transportationcharges while with an increase of Rs. 100, the cost of purchase of Kinnowhas become Rs 800 per mound this year.
