Pakistan likely to export potatoes to Russia

First-ever potato cleaning plant established in Karachi at a cost of about Rs5 million.

KARACHI:

Pakistan may export 120,000 to 125,000 metric tons of potato to Russia as the demand for potato in Russia is increasing, said Harvest Tradings CEO Ahmad Jawad.

In a press statement on Saturday, Jawad further said that to fulfill Russia’s terms of importing potatoes from Pakistan, a first-ever automated state- of- art potato cleaning plant was established in Karachi. The locally assembled plant was set up at a cost of about Rs5 million.

It would be utilised for value addition in potato and making them acceptable in the international market, Jawad said. It would not only do sand washing but would also help in grading process, he added.

Jawad also said that Pakistan can earn millions of dollars from potato exports to Russia if proper infrastructure is developed. Presently, the international market price ranges $500 per metric ton.

Pakistan traditionally exports potatoes to Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore and Iran.

Jawad further said that although Pakistan is a large potato producing country, yet it has very limited storage and processing facilities. Poor post-harvest handling and lack of transport and storage facilities causes losses and reduction in quality and quantity.

“Although cold storage space is available but handling of potatoes is not satisfactory,” he said, adding that this had led to lower prices in the international market for local potatoes.  He urged the Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters and Merchants Association, the only government recognised fruit and vegetable body, to draw some workable strategy with the government to enhance the perishable exports as well as build a comprehensive policy for exporters to save their interests.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2011.