Kinoo exports likely to fetch $180 million

KARACHI: The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association has set kinoo export target of 300,000 tonnes for this year

 

The spokesman of the association Waheed Ahmed said Saturday, “Pakistan is estimated to earn about $180 million from the export of 300,000 tonnes of kinoo this season”. The export of the fruits will formally begin from December 1.

 

He termed the target optimistic, saying it was set keeping in view the big export markets for Pakistan’s kinoo i.e. Russia and Malaysia.

 

He said Pakistan is likely to get back access to Russian markets from the next week since the ministry of national food security and research is in constant contact with the Russian authorities.

 

“The access will be granted to kinoo only. As far as potato is concerned Russian authorities will visit Pakistan first sometimes in January to permit its buying,” he said.

 

As a matter of record, Russian authorities banned import of all agriculture products from Pakistan with effect from October 1 after they found pest in potatoes imported from Pakistan.

 

Another trader said Russia is one of the biggest markets for Pakistani kinoo. “Pakistan exports about 40 percent of annual kinoo export target to Russia,” he said.

 

Ahmed said the export of the fruit will surpass the set target if banks operating in Pakistan are allowed to open letter of credit for exporting the fruit to Iran.

 

“Pakistan is likely to resume kinoo (and other goods) export to Iran from this year as US has announced to withdraw financial and economic sanctions slapped on Iran.”

 

He said that the export of the fruit to Indonesia is likely to increase this year because Pakistan signed preferential trade agreement wit it.

 

He said Pakistan can export 40,000-tonne kinoo to Indonesia, 82,000- tonne to Russia, and 80,000-tonne to Iran annually.

 

He said Pakistan is estimated to produce 2.1 million tonnes of kinoo this year, approximately 17 percent higher than 1.8 million tonnes produced last year.

 

Last year, Pakistan earned $140 million by exporting 235,000-tonne of kinoo, which was 35,000-tonne over the export target of 200,000-tonne.