June 24, 2008
"Seedless kinnows export : Pakistan trying to meet European countries’ demand "
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 KARACHI: Pakistani exporters are working on a plan to export seedless kinnow to European countries to meet their demand by 2011, said chairman Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Exporters Association (FVPEA) Monday. Pakistan is looking forward to produce citrus having 4-6 seeds each as compared to 20 to 25 seeds, which is the main Europeans demand. Europeans say seeds cause stomach disorder,Pakistani |
exporters said. "Every seed of kinnow has a specific chemical material that some times disturb stomach," said Mateen Siddiqui, chairman FVPEA. The production of seedless kinnows was the result of the public-private partnership by Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Citrus Research Institute of Government of Punjab and Sunder Agricultural and Fruit Farm.
He said Pakistani kinnow was not given much importance in European countries due to containing around 20 to 25 seeds each piece.
Mr Siddiqui said this seedless kinnow would be able to compete in the international market.
He said these kinnows would not be hazardous for the human health in any way as the methods used for its production include natural selection as well as the genetic manipulation.
The European countries mostly import citrus from USA, New Zealand and some of Arab states besides Spain and Morocco.
He said, "If we move professionally and meet quarantine requirements, we can grab the market volumes as we are already meeting the Iranian Plant Protection Organisation requirements of conforming the installation of data loggers in the cold storages.
He said there was need for conducting joint experiments to test fruit flies sterilization at 50C for 14 consecutive days in order to get certified by Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.
An official of Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) said Pakistan produces 95 percent of total world kinnow production. It is the sixth largest producer of Kinnow (mandarin) and oranges in the world, with 2.3 million tonnes. It is being estimated that the country may have a record export of 250,000 tonnes of kinnows this year.
The plants of seedless kinnows are produced through tissue culture and the government has sold 110,000 million saplings to the growers so far. Almost 400-450 saplings of seedless kinnows were being sold every day to the growers.
He said a plant of seedless kinnow costs Rs 100 against Rs 20 for the one with seed, he added.
World citrus exports are valued $2.125 billion in which Pakistan's share was $31 million that was around 2.5 percent. This is due to export of citrus to low priced countries.
Secretary Agriculture Marketing, Punjab, stakeholders of Sargodha region Malik Imtiaz Ahmed, Shamoon Sadiq, chief executive officer and Muhammad Iqbal, chief operating officer, PHDEB and Haji Muhammad Azam, president, Kinnow Processors and Exporters Association Bhalwal expressed hope that country would succeed in increasing kinnow export by virtue of seedless fruit.
He said Pakistani kinnow was not given much importance in European countries due to containing around 20 to 25 seeds each piece.
Mr Siddiqui said this seedless kinnow would be able to compete in the international market.
He said these kinnows would not be hazardous for the human health in any way as the methods used for its production include natural selection as well as the genetic manipulation.
The European countries mostly import citrus from USA, New Zealand and some of Arab states besides Spain and Morocco.
He said, "If we move professionally and meet quarantine requirements, we can grab the market volumes as we are already meeting the Iranian Plant Protection Organisation requirements of conforming the installation of data loggers in the cold storages.
He said there was need for conducting joint experiments to test fruit flies sterilization at 50C for 14 consecutive days in order to get certified by Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.
An official of Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) said Pakistan produces 95 percent of total world kinnow production. It is the sixth largest producer of Kinnow (mandarin) and oranges in the world, with 2.3 million tonnes. It is being estimated that the country may have a record export of 250,000 tonnes of kinnows this year.
The plants of seedless kinnows are produced through tissue culture and the government has sold 110,000 million saplings to the growers so far. Almost 400-450 saplings of seedless kinnows were being sold every day to the growers.
He said a plant of seedless kinnow costs Rs 100 against Rs 20 for the one with seed, he added.
World citrus exports are valued $2.125 billion in which Pakistan's share was $31 million that was around 2.5 percent. This is due to export of citrus to low priced countries.
Secretary Agriculture Marketing, Punjab, stakeholders of Sargodha region Malik Imtiaz Ahmed, Shamoon Sadiq, chief executive officer and Muhammad Iqbal, chief operating officer, PHDEB and Haji Muhammad Azam, president, Kinnow Processors and Exporters Association Bhalwal expressed hope that country would succeed in increasing kinnow export by virtue of seedless fruit.
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Source: By Daily Times