Climate, ageing variety hurt kinnow exports

Pakistan has been facing a continuous fall in kinnow export due to climatic effects and the fruit's old variety, said All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed.

Over the past five years, exports have declined by 50% to 250,000 tonnes, primarily caused by smog and fog, while production was expected to decrease by 35% in the current season, he said in a statement on Monday.

Ahmed added that the kinnow (mandarin) export target had been set at 250,000 tonnes for the ongoing season, which was lower by 50,000 tonnes than last year and down by 50% when compared with the last five years.

The production and quality of kinnow is being affected to an alarming extent by the changing weather patterns. The kinnow season has also been delayed because of prolonged heat and late arrival of cold weather. Consequently, the citrus fruit production is expected to be lower by 35%.

Ahmed remarked that Pakistan's kinnow variety was 60 years old, which was unable to resist disease attacks and weather effects whereas no variety in the world lasted more than 25 years.

For the past 10 years, the PFVA has been urging the provincial and federal governments to promote research and development activity and help plant fresh varieties in new areas, but no attention has been paid.

Additionally, the kinnow production this season has been delayed by 15 days owing to hot weather, a prolonged heat wave and the delayed arrival of winter. Thus, the sweetness, moisture and quality of the fruit have been impacted, which will hit its exports as well as demand in the local market. Compared to the previous season, the local price will also be higher by 10%.

Ahmed stressed that if three to four new varieties were not developed, the export of kinnow will come to a halt in the next three years as half of the 250 processing plans have already been closed due to heavy losses.

The employment of 300,000 people associated with the kinnow industry and the investment of Rs300 billion are also at stake. Owing to stiff competition, Pakistan's important export markets, namely China and Iran, have been lost.