Task force panel enumerates snags in horticulture products transport

The second implementation committee meeting of the task force on horticulture, finance and competitiveness told the authorities here in a meeting that transport facility of horticultural products--fruits, vegetables and flowers--was limited because of deficiencies in the logistic system in the country.
It was observed that supply of cargo space on aircraft and ships leaving Pakistan for buying destinations was in short supply and there was lack of infrastructure dedicated to the post-harvest handling of horticultural products.
The implementation committee said that fewer direct air connections to major markets and lack of air cargo space restricted exports of high value perishables, such as flowers. With regard to shipping, it noted that refrigerated containers were in short supply, as was the refrigerated road transport. It observed that controlled atmosphere environments and the entire cool chain were either not in place or dysfunctional and in consequence post harvest losses were as high as 40 percent of the crop.
Another important finding of the committee was that quality control in the horticulture sector lacked an efficient inspection service and relevant legislation was either lacking or had been suspended.
The official of the Food Ministry told the committee that the problems being faced by exporters of horticulture were being tackled as newly established National Animal and Plant Health Inspections Services (NAPHIS), an agency in Minfal, would develop inspection services required for safe food.
The issue of finance for horticulture sector was also discussed at the meeting. Javed Malik, Additional Secretary, Finance Ministry, briefed the committee that while the commercial banks were willing to lend under both Islamic and standard banking terms, they were generally unfamiliar with the dynamics of the industry.
It was suggested that the banks and the industry needed to come together to develop banking products that suited the needs of an industry where the main product is perishable.
The implementation committee instructed Minfal and CSF, which are jointly providing secretariat services to the overall task force on horticulture finance and competitiveness, to proceed and develop specific actionable recommendations.
They were asked to focus on logistics for transport and infrastructure and the development of a functional inspection service in collaboration with NAPHIS.