PFVA to hold conference on kinnow to boost production, export

ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to improve production and export of citrus, the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA)  is going to hold a national conference on kinnow on December 1 in Sargodha.

Growers, traders and exporters of kinnow would participate in the mega event whereas Punjab Minister for Agriculture Hussain Jehanyan Gardezi would be the chief guest on the occasion.

During a recent meeting with the minister, the patron-in-chief of PFVA, Waheed Ahmed,  extended an invitation for this forthcoming event that was gladly accepted by the minister for agriculture with the firm assurance that the ministry would extend full support and cooperation to make the event a success. 

Waheed apprised the minister of “Horticulture Vision 2030”, a road map prepared with extensive consultations of all stakeholders of all the provinces of Pakistan with a clear well-defined objective to revolutionise the agriculture sector by adopting modern techniques in general and production of fruits and vegetables in particular, which, besides ensuring food security will lead to enhancement of exports of high-quality fruits and vegetable at par with international standards by adding more varieties in the existing limited fruit basket. 

Agriculture Minister Hussain Jehanyan Gardezi appreciated the “Horticulture Vision 2030” developed by Waheed Ahmed for the uplift of agriculture sector and affirmed his commitment to get guidance from the PFVA on research and development (R&D) for the improvement of various agri-based projects in the province.  

Waheed Ahmed briefed the minister about issues the industry was confronted with and the realistic solutions proposed in the Vision 2030 for improvement in supply chain management. He further shared that the objective of holding a conference on kinnow was to eliminate issues related to the production of kinnows in areas of Sargodha and Bhalwal.

The conference would identify these issues and recommend realistic solutions so that the significance of kinnow in the national economy could be further enhanced. The export of Kinnow would commence from Dec 1, Waheed informed. 

“Due to the global pandemic of Covid-19, the demand for citrus fruits has increased considerably in the world. By meticulous planning, Pakistan can avail this unique opportunity by meeting the local demand and exporting surplus kinnow to earn valuable foreign exchange desperately needed to support the national economy,” he said.

The minister for agriculture acknowledged the strenuous efforts of PFVA in preparation of Vision 2030 and remarked, “It’s a rare glorifying example to find out the way PFVA, in collaboration with federal and provincial governments, has developed the road map for the uplift of horticulture. The government of Punjab would implement recommendations of the Vision-2030 for rapid development of the sector.”