KARACHI: Ahmad Jawad, a senior horticulturist and harvest trading director here on Tuesday apprehended decline in the country’s kinnow export target for the current year. “Kinnow export target was set at 3,50,000 tons for this year but due to sudden hail storms crop has been affected at quite a large level turning both the growers and exporters unable to meet the demand,” he said.
Ahmad Jawad warned that the situation could worsen if appropriate preemptive measures were not taken and suggested installation of anti-hail detection and radar system.
Emphasizing importance of technology for local agro-based businesses, Jawad said updated technology in the country could be procured through public private partnership equity. “We can definitely save our products from hailstorm and other climate change induced threats, especially for our kinnow and mango crops,” said Ahmad also the former chairman of FPCCI’s regional committee on horticulture exports.
Reminding that the whole world is being affected due to climate change, he said country’s agriculture sector was exposed to serious risks consequent to season related disturbance and decline in water levels.
Ahmed Jawad said impacts linked to climate change have strong material and economic pertinence for Pakistan, estimated to cut billions of dollars from its total GDP by 2050. “I strongly believe Climate Change as one of biggest threat for our country,” he said.
Concerned authorities were urged government to design an effective strategy to tackle the climate change issue with the expertise of European Technology in order to protect country’s horticulture sector.
Mentioning that there existed an international market worth $15 billion of citrus varieties and its value-added products, he suggested that an exploratory delegation be sent to Africa. “There also exists a dire need to find markets for Pakistani fruits and vegetables,” said the senior exporter. He said Pakistan by introducing other varieties of kinnow in the country can generate over $1 billion through exporting the fruit every year.
