By Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, Nov 08 (INP-WealthPK)- Pakistan is among one of the leading producers of citrus fruits, especially of mandarin/kinnow, and exports in large amounts annually to different countries. Pakistani citrus fruits are considered the best all over the world because of their unique taste, fragrance, and quality. The main varieties are sweet orange (Succri, Musambi, Washington Navel, Jaffa, Red Blood, Ruby Red and Valencia Late), Mandarins (Feutrell’s early and kinnow), grape fruit (Mash, seedless, Duncan, Foster, Shamber), Lemon (Eureka, Lisbon lemon & rough lemon), Lime (Kagzi lime & sweet lime), etc. The major destinations for Pakistani citrus fruits are China, Afghanistan, Russia, Philippines, UAE, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Oman, Iraq, Qatar and some European destinations. In FY 2020-21, Pakistan exported 460,000 metric tonnes of kinnow worth $253 million, which is the highest ever export volume in its history. However, the overall production has decreased in recent years due to weather, disease, and less nutrient soil. Exports also showed an overall decreasing trend due to low production of seed, a small number of varieties, and a little lack of quality compatibility. The citrus industry in China has grown rapidly in recent years. China exports varieties like mandarin, pomelo, sweet orange, lemon, etc outclassing many international producers. The US Department of Agriculture’s “foreign agricultural service” recently reported that China was forecast to produce 23.1 million metric tons of tangerines and mandarins in 2020-2021, a slight increase from 2019-2020. Source: https://citrusindustry.net/2021/01/13/china-tangerine-and-mandarin-forecast/ The value of exports of the commodity group 0805 "Citrus fruit, fresh or dried" from Pakistan registered an increase of 28% compared to 2019. The share of this commodity group in total exports from Pakistan increased by 0.249 percentage points (p.p.) compared to 2019, while cumulative merchandise exports from Pakistan totaled $22 billion in 2020.   Pakistan | Imports and Exports | World | Citrus fruit | Value (US$) and Value Growth, YoY (%) | 2009 – 2020 Source:https://trendeconomy.com/data/h2/Pakistan/0805#:~:text=Afghanistan%20with%20a%20share%20of,8.44%25%20(17.3%20million%20US%24)

Imports structure of 0805 - Citrus fruit, fresh or dried. - to Pakistan in 2020 represented by the following main commodity groups:

• 99%(1.6 million US$): 080590 - Citrus fruit (excl. of 0805.10-0805.50), fresh/dried
• 258%(4.16 thousand US$): 080510 - Oranges, fresh/dried

Source: https://trendeconomy.com/data/h2/Pakistan/0805#:~:text=Afghanistan%20with%20a%20share%20of,8.44%25%20(17.3%20million%20US%24) In order to increase citrus fruits exports, the Government of Pakistan should make arrangements for training of farmers in processing citrus peel, processing planta to extract juice and strain pulp, drying, pickling, powdering, and canning, etc. so that they may become prosperous. The agriculture department should also train the producers and exporters in the preservation of citrus fruit and other related products, wax processing, use of fungicides, hygiene, proper packing, and cold piling, etc to increase the shelf life of the fruit. This industry is also beset with many other problems like a lack of infrastructure (for transport and shipment), warehouses, cold storage, financial sources, trained manpower (for picking and grading), and export pundits. Delay in issuance of certificates for shipments, slow banking process and customs clearance and a lot of paperwork expose the exporters to additional charges for cold storage on per hour basis. However, despite all these challenges, the most encouraging thing for Pakistan is that China is helping it in research work to grow new varieties of citrus fruit. A lot of work is still needed in the production and quality assurance sector. The two countries had signed a protocol – “Phytosanitary requirements for export of citrus fruit from Pakistan to China” – on April 5, 2005, under which China and Pakistan can conduct refresher training and introduce new technologies.