Kinnow Exports: Pakistan sets target of 400,000 tons

KARACHI: Pakistan has officially kicked off its Kinnow exports and the government has set an export target of 400,000 tonnes for 2015-16, 100,000 tonnes higher than the export target for the previous season. However, the growers and exporters have warned that this year Kinnow production will be sub-par and that there is a good chance that the target will be missed by a wide margin. Former FPCCI Chairman Standing Committee Ahmad Jawad said the low export quality yield in the on-going season would keep Pakistan away from the opportunity to fill the gap created by the Russian ban on the import of Turkish oranges after the recent events in the Middle East. “If government does not use preventive measures, Kinnow exports will be squeezed further within two to three years. This year, all big names in kinnow export have cut their shipments by 50%,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2016.

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