Oranges export likely to go up by 50pc

KARACHI - The export of the oranges is likely to increase by 50 per cent during this season against the mark of 150,000 tons achieved last year.
The All-Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters and Importers Association has fixed the export target at 200,000 tons for the current season, which has already started, Abdul Wahid, former chairman of the association, told The Nation.
During the winter season Pakistan export market grows rapidly on the back of fruits particularly the oranges. Exporters said that our orange is popular all over the world primarily due to our fertile soil and hot climate under which this fruit grows.
This environment is available in Punjab from December to April. Grown in Pakistan and demanded all over the world the juicy, soft, scented and refreshing oranges are our prime fruit export, they said and added that the export of the commodity is at its peak during the month of January.
Pakistan is the sixth largest producer of oranges in the world, with its contribution of 2.1 million tons. Pakistan world mandarin and oranges market share during the year 1997 was 0.9 per cent and 3.6 per cent in terms of value and volume respectively.
Pakistan is also the largest producer of 'Citrus Reticula variety (Kinow).
This unique variety of citrus is indigenous to this part of the world.
According to an estimate approximately 95 per cent of the total oranges produced all over the world is grown in Pakistan.