Ministry seeks to change export date of fruits

Exporters’ association says maturity period of mangoes, kinnows has changed due to climate change

ISLAMABAD:

With exports of mangoes and kinnows suffering in global market due to impact of climate change, the commerce ministry has proposed the economic policymakers to change scheduled time of exports.

Sources told The Express Tribune that exporters had approached the commerce ministry complaining about taste of mangoes and kinnows.

Mango and kinnow are two major horticulture products for which exports are regulated under the Export Policy Order (EPO) 2020. As per the Serial Nos 4 & 5 of Schedule II of the EPO, the export of mangoes is not allowed before May 20 unless otherwise specified by the Ministry of Commerce. The government also does not allow export of citrus hybrid (kinnow) before December 1.

These dates were fixed so that un-ripened fruits are not allowed to be exported in order to maintain the good image of Pakistani fruits in the international market.

Nevertheless, All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) is of the view that recent effects of climate change have altered the time of maturity of fruits and now, mangoes do not mature by the given dates specified in the Export Policy Order 2020 ie May 20.

Hence, when exported, the product creates quality related issues, which are usually reported by customers.

Similarly, the association has informed that the export of kinnow through land route is mainly restricted to Afghanistan and Central Asian States (CAS) like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. In CAS, the major demand of the product is at New Year’s Eve hence, the product which reaches well before the New Year, is sold easily and the exporters get attractive prices. Since it takes around 3-4 weeks for the product to reach the target markets in Central Asian States, it is preferable to start the dispatches earlier than December 1, the date fixed by Export Policy Order 2020.

Exporters have approached the government to change dates of exports of mangoes and kinnows in line with the changing environment.

In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce has proposed the Economic Coordination Committee that a committee should be formed comprising of the Ministry of National Food Security to examine the date. It proposed that the government should set new dates for exports following recommendations of the committee.

It further said that section 3(1) of the Exports, Import (control) Act 1950 empowers the government to restrict or otherwise control the imports and exports from Pakistan of any good or class of goods.

The commerce ministry further said that it had discussed the issue with the Ministry of National Food Security. The ECC will take up the issue in its upcoming meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2020.

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