Web Desj
Pakistan has achieved a new record by exporting 460,000 metric tonnes of kinnow during the export season of year 2020-21, being the highest export volume of citrus in the country’s history.
“We are glad to share that the export of Kinnows & Oranges increased by 16% to USD 209 million during Jul-Apr 2021 as compared to USD 180 million during the same period last year,” tweeted Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce , Abdul Razak Dawood on Monday.
It is mainly due to the surge in the consumption of citrus fruit especially Kinnow during the global pandemic Covid-19 as it is believed that vitamin C plays a vital role in strengthening the human immune system, safeguarding against the deadly disease.
Pakistan exported 460,000 tonnes of kinnow to forty countries globally, which was 30 per cent higher compared to the last year’s export volume of 353,000 tonnes.
“I commend the hard work of our Citrus exporters and encourage them to achieve even better results in next season. MOC is at your service,” Dawood added.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Pakistan Fruit and Vegetables Exporters Association , Waheed Ahmad has said , despite record export of Kinnow, the exporters sustained financial losses due to changes in rates of US dollar against Pakistan currency.
” Since the exports’ orders materialised at the exchange rate of one $ equivalent to Rs168, by the time payment was to be made to the exporters, the rupee attained stability against the US dollar and stood at exchange rate of $I = PKR 153, incurring losses to the exporters,” he claimed.
Total size of Pakistani kinnow industry stands at Rs125 billion. The citrus faces numerous stiff challenges which includes outdated orchards, having less resistance against various diseases, low quality seeds, problems of poor cosmetic look, limited varieties besides short export window season of three to four months.
Most of the kinnow orchards are located in Punjab province’s citrus belt located in Sargodha division.
