The kinnow mandarin season is currently underway in Pakistan, and according to Imtiaz Hussain, Managing Director of Imtiaz Enterprises, “We are being very careful with our shipments to Europe. We have also taken some steps of our own regarding the SOPs for our own country, since we are quite connected to mango producers, who were affected by last year’s situation with Indian mangoes.”
Imtiaz explains that the mango campaign last year was very tough due to the sudden implementation of new and strict phytosanitary rules regarding hot water treatment, processing and packing. “This year we had enough time to make arrangements at farm level concerning traceability, as per the new SOP laid out by the government of Pakistan, and we are determined to supply the best quality mangoes.”
He assures that the procedures for growers are now those of the Global G.A.P. certification. “Everything must be recorded, including aspects such as fertilisers being used, and there will be inspections from the Department to monitor the MRLs, which the growers are responsible for keeping under control. All containers will also be thoroughly checked before shipping.”
In this sense, Pakistani growers are making a great effort to ship fruit meeting Europe’s high standards to all destinations. “While Europe is traditionally not a large destination for Pakistani citrus, export volumes have dropped by more than 50% compared to last year. Meanwhile, shipments to neighbouring countries, like Singapore or Malaysia, have increased because of China’s problems with the mandarin harvest,” affirms Imtiaz.
Furthermore, he reports that “Indonesia is coming back as a major market, although Russia remains the number one destination for Pakistani citrus, with occasionally more than 2,500 40 ft. reefer containers per year. Besides these, the Middle East, as well as Ukraine and Poland, are taking good volumes from Pakistan this year.”
In the long term, Imtiaz assures that such efforts will naturally result in an improvement in the overall quality and yield of Pakistani Kinnow mandarins and mangoes, as “the Government pursues results for Pakistan as a whole, and not just individual companies, to improve its reputation. Value wise, our fruit has actually also registered an improvement compared to last year,” he concludes.
For more information:
Imtiaz Hussain
Imtiaz Enterprises
Pakistan.
Tel: +92-21-36870453
Fax: +92-21-34985942
info@imtiaz.biz
http://www.imtiaz.biz
Imtiaz Hussain
Imtiaz Enterprises
Pakistan.
Tel: +92-21-36870453
Fax: +92-21-34985942
info@imtiaz.biz
http://www.imtiaz.biz
Author: Yzza Ibrahim / Juan Zea Estelles