Harvest Tradings CEO Ahmad Jawad on Friday said that despite being the fourth largest producer of dates in the world, our traders were importing dates from Iran during Ramadan.
He said that despite the peak season for date consumption, Pakistani traders had failed to capture the loyal customers of dates, referring to the Muslim community world over.
Date exports start from the end of July but Pakistan Horticulture Export Development Company (PHDEC) still has not devised an export plan for the commodity.
The Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah had indicated its willingness to finance up to 65%of the total cost of the projects, which included the manufacturing of value added date products in Pakistan, but no progress has been seen since the offer was drafted a few years back..
Jawad added that the potential of export of dates from Pakistan was between $250 million to $300mn per annum, but due to lack of infrastructure, proper processing and packaging facilities only $29mn per annum is earned.
Lack of matching with the international standards is one of the major reasons for restricted exports. There is need for the provision of modern facilities at farms to tap the full potential of this golden crop.
The annual production of dates in Pakistan is estimated at around 540,000 tonnes, of which only 90,000 tonnes is exported. The rest is either consumed locally, or perishes due to lack of preserving facilities. Balochistan is the largest producer of dates.
The last government did launch a model project of a date processing plant at Khairpur District, with the collaboration of the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) and the government of Sindh.
The ministry concerned provided Rs 20 million for the model project via the Export Development Fund.
The plant would have a capacity to process 3,000 to 3,500 tons of dates per season. The remaining amount would be paid by private investors.
Similarly, another date plant is to be set up at Ratta Kulachi, DI Khan district, again with the collaboration of PHDEC and the government of KPK. This project includes cleaning/initial sorting, fumigation, washing, drying, grading and packing facilities for fresh dates.
Moreover it is expected to have an annual processing capacity of 3,300 tons of dates. This will be based on double shifts and has a processing period of 150 days. However, Jawad said there were no updates as to when these projects would be completed.
