Kinnow export starts

Pakistan is likely to fetch $135 million from kinnow exports, which have started from October 27 to the countries of South Asia, Middle East, Far East and Central Asian Republics.
"Kinnow export is on to Sri Lanka, Manila, Dubai, Almaty and other Central Asian Republics and we hope that Pakistan would earn around 135 million dollars this season", exporters told Business Recorder with great optimism on Friday.
They said that Pakistan, well supported by about 3 million tons production, would export around 0.225 million tons kinnows, which might reach 0.250 million tons if the Russian ban on Pakistan's agricultural products is lifted. "So far, we have dispatched around 500 tons kinnows and this may hit the 225,000 tons figure by the end of April next year", the exporters said.
They, however, categorically said that the country would only be able to achieve the target if Russian ban was lifted. "Otherwise, it would hardly achieve half of it," they added. They said that the image of Pakistan in the international market in exports of kinnow, which has a remarkable appearance and taste, was also likely to face setback if permanent solution was not sought for viruses like 'Thrips' and 'Might'.
"Our kinnow has already been facing the blemishes problem. And a fresh reputational damage will await us if we don't pay heed to the Thrips and Might viruses", they warned. About the recently applied EurepGap standard in some kinnow orchards, they said that European quarantine standard had covered a meagre 10,000-acre area, which is a very small portion of the production area which is very extensive.
"The initiative augurs well and it could be possible after efforts of the exporters who themselves reached the growers despite a non-co-operative attitude on their part", they said. They said that no bid to improve the horticulture sector could be a success story until a behavioural change is brought on the growers' level by educating them on good agricultural practices.
On prices of perishable fruit in international markets they said Pakistani exporters were charging $200 to $250 for per 40 kg kinnows, marking an increase of around $50, or 25 percent, as compared to $180-$200 of 2005. "A bumper crop at home has enabled us to price our commodity at higher rates as compared to 2005", they added.
They said kinnows were being exported through sea and land routes. "Kinnow being exported to the Central Asian Republics is going through Chaman, Taftan and Torkham, while sea route is being used for the consignments destined for Dubai, Sri Lanka and Philippines", said the exporters.
When asked which part of the country were producing the exportable kinnows the exporters said: "Sargodha grown kinnows are exported while those grown in other parts of the country are used in the local markets".