Russian importers have shown keen interests in import of potato from Pakistan, sources in Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) told Business Recorder here on Monday. TDAP has arranged a visit of local potato exporters, who would leave for Russia on Sunday to introduce their produce in the Russian market, where the demand for the kitchen item is on the rise.
According the sources, the exporters were invited for the first time by Russian importers to introduce their food item in the country's market, which was currently facing shortage of potato.
Pakistan, which is among the major potato producing countries, could generate good revenue if the food item was exported to Russia, they said. A four member delegation of All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (APFVEIMA) comprising Waheed, Abdul Wahid, Aslam Sanjani, and Binyameen, would meet the importers in Moscow and try to convince them to export more Pakistani potato to meet their demand. As the Asian eating habits has changed with more people turning to fast food, the use of potato in different food items has increased resulting in high demand of the product, the sources said.
In the Russian market where the potato's consumption has been increased, Pakistan has good opportunity to introduce its product. Although, they said, few containers of potatoes have so far been exported to Russia this year, the quantity of export is negligible.
It is to be mentioned here that potato is produced in Pakistan over 111,000 hector. About 70 to 80 percent of potato is produced in Punjab and Southeast North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Besides, the export of raw potato, which has three crops season per year, there was a need of value-addition of the produce.
Unfortunately, the sources said, for making crisps, which are being produced from direct potato cuts/slices and also by extrusion process, there is not a single frozen french-fries producing company/facility in Pakistan.
Despite being the major potato producing country, Pakistan is 11th largest importer of frozen potatoes in the Asian region for the lack of adequate facilities. They country could generate more revenue if the same food item was exported through simply processing it into French fries.
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