The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), in collaboration with the Sindh government, has introduced an interesting innovation in the cultivation of strawberries in Pakistan.

The CSF has imported saplings of two new varieties of strawberries, Sweet Charlie and Festival.

These have been imported for the first time from the US and have already been planted in district Khairpur of Sindh.  Neither variety has been grown in Pakistan before, says a press release.

The saplings have been planted over an acre and are expected to bear fruit from late January to March.

If successful, the initial project is likely to generate huge interest and potential for export of the fruit in the years to come.

“There are a number of countries, including some in the Gulf, Central Asia and Russia, which import strawberries in winter. Pakistan will be able to target these markets with fresh fruit if the current project is successful,” said Arthur Bayhan, Chief Executive Officer of CSF.

Over the past decade, the fruit has seen phenomenal popularity in the country and is now grown in great abundance for domestic consumption between February and April.

Some of the varieties grown in Pakistan are Chandelier, Corona and Stuff. These are mostly sour and small in size. However, the two new varieties imported by CSF, through the Sindh Development Fund, which is managed by CSF and funded by the Government of Sindh, are large and sweet.

The USAID support for CSF is part of the $2.8 billion aid that the US government has provided to Pakistan since 2002 to improve economic growth, education, health and governance and to reconstruct the earthquake affected areas.