The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Pakistan is a land of fruits and vegetables, dozens of high quality aromatic fruits and vegetables are available in the fresh state from farm and are available in the local market of Pakistan during the whole year. There is a lot of potential for the export of fruits and vegetables from Pakistan to high end international markets. The export of Mango, Kinnow mandarin, Dates (dried and cured) in the super market and retail market is ever surging in the world. To meet the consumer requirements in international market, measures like GlobalGAP certification, pre and post harvest handling practices, proper processing and pack house operations, cool chain management were initiated at farm level in the country with the financial involvement of FIRMS Project, USAID, Lahore, Pakistan. USAID/FIRMS project started working on the GlobalGAP Certification (GlobalGAP) and infrastructure development of mango in Pakistan during 2009. After establishing and maintaining the mango processing and cool chain system at selected farms in Sindh and Punjab province, trial sea and air shipments were sent to international buyers like Total Exotics, UniVeg and Bakkar in UK and Holland during 2010. Over 70% success was achieved after 33 days of evaluation at the retail stores in UK and Holland. On the basis of last year experience of trial shipments of the mango, order for the air shipments and sea shipments to Bama, Total Exotics, UniVeg has been confirmed in advance to the mango harvesting season starting from May 2011.  Similarly, Kinnow mandarin and Dates are being exported to Russia, CIS regions, Iran, UK etc in larger quantities, and premium is being procured by the exporters by adoption of GlobalGAP certification and proper processing facilities in the cluster. To create awareness and up gradation of knowledge about product handling; growers/farmers, processors and exporters, trainings and international fruit logistica was also conducted/arranged to meet the requisite demand of the buyers in high end market. As a result the number of GlobalGAP certified farms and acceptability of products in international market is ever increasing, which will ultimately boost up the export business of fruits and vegetables, and uplifting the economy of Pakistan.