Various projects have been initiated to help boost the export of fruit and vegetables and eradicate hurdles inhibiting export growth. A departmental meeting of Agriculture Marketing held to review progress on ongoing development projects.
They observed that low quality and insufficient shelf life of the perishable items were among the main problems faced in enhancing exports, according to a press release. At present Pakistan produces 13 million tons fruit and vegetables annually, valued at around $2 billion, of which only half a million tons valued $140 million was exported.
Efforts were being made to increase the share of the country's export in this sector in the world export market of around $80 billion. The new projects initiated include establishment of collection points and markets for fresh fruits and vegetables equipped with cold storage facilities to prevent wastage of such products.
A modernised plant was being set up in Lahore to improve the shelf life of products such as mangoes, potatoes and onions. Agro processing zones were being established in Multan and Salem, Sargodha for facilitating the export of mangoes and citrus respectively, while refrigerated vans will be provided for floriculture.