LAHORE: Exports of fruits and vegetables from the country during first seven months of current fiscal year have increased by 26.88 per cent and 14.65 per cent respectively.
During the period from July to January during the current fiscal year, about 416,390 metric tonnes of fresh fruits worth $ 280.337 million were exported as compared to same period of last fiscal year. The fruit exports from the country were recorded at 417,808 metric tonnes valuing $ 220.941 million during first seven months of last fiscal year, according to official data.
Meanwhile, about 320,948 metric tonnes of vegetable valuing $ 109.892 million were exported during the period under review as it was recorded at 297.832 metric tonnes worth $ 95.851 million in first seven months of last fiscal year.
Fruit exports from the country during month of January registered growth of 8.81 per cent as compared to same month of last year, while the exports of vegetables dropped by 4.06 per cent.
The data revealed that the exports of leguminous vegetables (pluses) posted tremendous increase of 190.43 per cent and reached at 3,278 metric tons of $ 2.823 million. According to the data, the exports of pulses were recorded at 1,204 metric tonnes worth $ 0.972 million during the same period of last fiscal year.
It may be recalled that over all food group exports from the country during the period under review grew by 6.30 per cent where as food imports in the country decreased by 8.5 per cent as compared to same period of last fiscal year. During the period from July-January, different food commodities worth $ 2.657 billion have been exported as compared to $ 2.449 billion of same period last fiscal year.