Islamabad September 4 (Online Int’l): FPCCI Standing Committee on Horticulture Exports Chairman Ahmad Jawad on Friday said that only a small proportion of oranges are being exported annually, adding that value addition is vital to enhance its production.
Ahmad Jawad said that currently around 300,000 tons oranges are produced against the production capacity of 2.2 million tons. Most oranges are sold in the local market, therefore, the value addition of this fruit is vital. He said the Ministry of Science and Technology could play a pivotal role to increase production of oranges.
He shared these views while speaking at a webinar on orange value addition in Islamabad on Friday.
The FPCCI president said that even in Sargodha, a hub of Kinnow production, there are only two industrial units that manufacture orange juice. Reportedly, no unit utilises the peel of the kinnow fruits.
“From peel we can produce orange oil which is a natural grease cutter for the extraction of heavy oil and it’s recyclable.”
Even the pulp is not being utilised in any products such as cosmetics. Since no industrial unit is present to utilise the fruit completely, farmers are unable to benefit from the fruit’s production. In order to establish value addition, it is essential to invite foreign investors to invest in this sector along with the government’s initiatives.
This will not only increase our foreign exchange reserves but also benefit farmers who will receive their due reward for hard work. Jawad briefed there is a dire need for the government to take progressive measures. Kinnow is an asset for the country’s exports and we can touch of $500 million through exports by simply improving fruit quality.
He also said the European Union is one of the most attractive markets for Pakistani fruits and vegetables because of its size and the paying capacity of its consumers. In the European market, Pakistani citrus has an insignificant share. As a table fruit, Pakistani Kinnow’s availability in the European market is irregular. Kinnow is mainly used as a raw material for juice by a few big companies in Europe, but it is not consistently imported as a table fruit.
Even in the mainstream market segment, the Pakistani Kinnow has to compete with seedless mandarin and clementine from Spain, Morocco, Argentina and South Africa. Though smaller in average size and harder to peel, mandarins from competitors are claiming a larger market share because of being seedless. The fruit of this variety will soon be available in the market and seedless kinnows will help to expand market access to Europe and it is vital for farmers to replace the existing variety with it for better returns.
He also suggested that the Ministry of Railways may start a ‘Kissan Express’ for the citric fruit
Currently majority private containers of the shipping companies have not given adequate refrigerated facilities all the way to Karachi and Quetta just to save fuel and as a result the fresh Kinnow fruit may receive quality damages till the time it is shipped from the respective port, he added.
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