ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Kinnow exports to Indonesia surged to US$23 million in 2016 as compared to US$3 million in 2013 in the wake of Preferential Trade Agreement between two countries, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Regional Standing Committee Chairman, Ahmad Jawad said.
Kinnow export target was set at 3,50,000 tons for this year but due to sudden hail storms, the crop was affected and exporters are unable to meet the buyers’ demand, so far so sorting is doing on a vast level which has increased the cost of product, said a press release.
“Our agriculture sector is being badly affected due to climate change and disturbance of seasons and decreasing water level in the earth”, he added.
The situation could worsen if appropriate measures were not taken, the chairman warned.
He also told an anti-hail detection and radar system was presented at the Tech Stage in Berlin recently at Fruit Logistica.
Rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and decreasing water resources may not have just a one-time colossal impact, but a more pronounced effect in altering urban and rural economic landscapes for good.
According to the World Bank, rising temperatures will impact multiple sectors of the economy, especially food, energy and water.
Jawad warned impacts linked to climate change had had strong material and economic pertinence for Pakistan, estimated to cut billions of dollars from its total GDP by 2050.
He also believed “our biggest threat isn’t terrorism, it’s Climate Change”.
He suggested for sending an exploratory delegation to Africa and find markets for Pakistani fruits and vegetables.
There is an international market worth $15 billion of citrus varieties and its value-added products.
