News: USAID to help develop chillies, tomatoes & mango crops for export
Name of the Newspaper: The News
Date of publication: Friday, March 23, 2007
Website:http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=47913

HYDERABAD: The USAID will help develop chillies, tomatoes and mango crops of Sindh for international markets through newly created Competitiveness Support Fund.

This was stated by Arthur Bayhan, leader of a four-member delegation of the CSF of the USAID, during a brainstorming session with growers and agriculture experts here the other day.

Other members of the delegation included Dr. Junaid Ahmad, Advisor, Dr. Fayaz Ahmed CEO Agri Business and Usman Khan Manager CSF.

Provincial Secretary Agriculture, Mahkumuddin Qadri, Chairman Chief Minister’s Investment Cell, Muslim Abbasi, Directors General Agriculture Extension and Research and Managing Director Sindh Seed Corporation attended the session.

The delegation underlined the need for innovation, value addition and competitiveness in agricultural production.

It was informed that out of an exportable surplus of 40,000 tonnes of chillies only 2000 tonnes were being exported due to fungus problem, which can be controlled through proper post harvest management. The annual chilly production is 1,50,000 tonnes of which 1,10,000 tonnes is consumed locally.

Moisture and dust cause a fungus called Aflatoxin to attack the produce. Technology from China and Thailand can be imported to fight this menace.

The delegation said demand for red chillies was increasing world over and there was great potential of developing chillies crop on modern lines. Through new technologies, good crop management and post harvest measures, Pakistan can capture larger share of global chilly market.

It was further informed that with new technology a pungent active ingredient is extracted from chillies and sold at the rate of Rs50,000 per kg.

Similarly projects will be initiated to boost value addition in mangoes and tomatoes also in the shape of producing paste, pulp, juices and other by-products.

It was also informed that Pakistan produces about 12 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables the farm gate value of which is about $2.2 billion; out of which 40 percent worth $880 million is wasted.