The growers of mango, banana and dates from Sindh have sought help of Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) to enhance their output and improving quality of the products for better earning.
A delegation comprising Mehmood Nawaz, General Secretary of Sindh Abadgar Board, and Ghulam Sarwar, a progressive horticulture farmer, told CSF officials that Pakistan produces approximately 1.7 million tons mangoes and its only 5 percent quantity is exported--at lowest prices.
Mehmood said that the growers needed CSF support and expertise to establish a value-added mango processing facility in Tando Allah Yar in Sindh.' CSF has launched a new initiative with Sindh government to help mango, dates and bananas industry segments to upgrade their physical infrastructure for better processing of these products.
CSF CEO Aurther Bayhan told the delegation that the initiative is planned to be a public-private partnership so that the beneficiaries take ownership. He appreciated that Sindh government was closely working with the growers to achieve the goal. During his recent visit to Karachi, Bayhan had met with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to discuss more co-operation between the stakeholders to achieve the objective within shortest the possible period.
Pakistan currently exports $170 million horticultural produce which CSF aims to increase to $1 billion by 2012 through its support to the Task Force on Horticulture Finance and Competitiveness.
According to a survey, only 16 percent of fruits are processed in Pakistan and this can be enhanced exponentially as there are great opportunities to augment the volume of value-added products using modern technology. The potential markets for Pakistani exporters have been identified in Europe and the Middle East.
Currently, around 6,638 million tons fruits are processed in Pakistan with citrus topping the list with 1,944 tons, followed by mangoes 1,675 tons, dates 622 tons and banana 158 tons. These are located in all four provinces--4,197 tons is produced in Punjab, 983 tons in Balochistan, 945 tons in Sindh and 513 tons in NWFP. CSF is a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan and has been established to reposition economy on a more global footing.