Concerns over a sharp decline in kinno exports spark worries
Published on: January 8, 2024.
Filed under:
Pakistan’s Kinno Export Faces a 50% Decline, Impacting the Economy
Pakistan’s kinno export is expected to decline by 50% this season, causing a significant impact on the country’s economy. A few years ago, Pakistan exported around 450,000 tonnes of kinno. However, this year, the export is projected to be only 225,000 tonnes, resulting in a revenue of $100 million instead of the previous $220 million. Despite a good crop of 2.75 million tonnes compared to 1.75 million tonnes last year, the issues of quality and shelf life have deeply affected the exports.
The quality of kinno has significantly deteriorated in recent years. Waheed Ahmed, the Patron-in-Chief of the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA), emphasized that the fruit’s quality has dropped since last year. This decrease in quality has had a negative impact on the exports.
Another challenge faced by Pakistani exporters is the production of seedless kinno from countries like China, Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey. These nations have experienced bumper citrus production this season, resulting in seedless kinno with superior quality, appearance, and shelf life. This has intensified the competition for Pakistani exporters.
The export season for kinno is expected to be limited to just one and a half months, from November 15 to February/March. This decrease in the export duration further compounds the challenges faced by exporters.
Moreover, the decline in quality has led to the shutdown of half of the 200 processing plants for kinno. This closure puts at stake Rs300 billion worth of investment and the employment of approximately 400,000 people.
To make matters worse, a significant number of export consignments are being rejected due to damaged kinno, resulting in substantial financial losses for both exporters and importers. This further emphasizes the urgent need to address the issues regarding the quality and shelf life of Pakistani kinno.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s kinno export is facing a significant decline this season, affecting the economy and the livelihoods of many. It is crucial for the government and relevant stakeholders to address the quality and shelf life issues to regain their position in the international market.
Source: [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com){:target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”}
