The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has prepared PC-I of the Agro Food Processing (AFP) Centre, Mirpur Khas (Sindh) and submitted to the federal government for provision of necessary funds. The Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) will sponsor the project having cost of Rs 575.43 million and would be operated under the public-private partnership.
The Board of Investment, Sindh and Federal Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi are taking special interest in this project, said SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry while talking to Business Recorder here today. The success story of AFP Multan induced the Sindh authorities to take decision for also setting up an agro food processing centre in Mirpur Khas that would have facility of value addition worth Rs 4.1 billion. Besides, this project is expected to mobilise private investment to the tune of Rs 4.5 billion, he said. Talking about the potential of Mirpur Khas, Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry said the district produces 70,000 tons of mangos, out of 402,000 tons total production in Sindh. Similarly, 30 percent ie 22,500 tons of guava is produced in and around Mirpur Khas district which is also third largest producer of tomato with 15,000 tons that constitutes 80 percent.
Mirpur Khas district is also second largest producer of onion as it produces 45 percent or 110,000 tons of onion. The district is also known second largest vegetable producing area with production of 52,000 tons vegetables, he added. SMEDA chief said that about 30-40 percent post harvest wastage had been recorded in agri cluster of Mirpur Khas mainly because of ill managed farming compared to Punjab province, he said adding that high capital outlay is one of the factors that is hindering investment in setting up facilities for value addition.
He said the Sindhri specie that has high pulp ratio as compared with the Punjab's Chanusa receives considerably low price. Other species of mangos like Tapka and Shakha also get insignificant price, he said. Therefore, there is a huge scope of value addition of such produces that would not only benefit farmers but also help enhance the country's exports up to US $3.6 million to the developed countries. SMEDA chief was optimistic that the proposed centre is expected to become self sustainable from the second year of operation. About the processing capacity, he said the centre would be able to process 10 tons mango pulp per hour, 5 tons guava and apple per hour and 5 tons tomato paste and puree per hour.