ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is experiencing a continuous decline in Kinnow exports due to climatic factors, aging varieties, and reduced production. Over the past five years, exports have fallen by 50%, reaching 250,000 tons. The situation is exacerbated by smog and fog, and production is expected to decrease by 35% this year.
According to the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA), the export target for Kinnow this season has been set at 250,000 tons, which is 50,000 tons less than last year and 50% lower than five years ago.
Waheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief of the PFVA, highlighted that the quality and quantity of Kinnow are being severely affected by climatic changes. The Kinnow season has been delayed due to prolonged heat and the late arrival of cold weather, with production expected to decrease by 35%.
Ahmed further explained that Pakistan’s Kinnow variety, which is 60 years old, is unable to withstand diseases and climate impacts. Globally, no fruit variety lasts more than 25 years. For the past decade, the PFVA has urged both provincial and federal governments to promote research and development and plant new Kinnow varieties in different regions. However, this issue has not received the necessary attention, contributing to the sharp decline in exports.
This season, Kinnow production has been delayed by 15 days due to the extended heat and late winter. As a result, the fruit’s sweetness, moisture, and overall quality have been affected, which will likely impact both local and export markets. Locally, the price of Kinnow is expected to increase by 10% compared to last season.
Ahmed stressed that if three to four new varieties of Kinnow are not developed, Pakistan’s Kinnow exports could cease within the next three years. Of the 250 Kinnow processing factories in Pakistan, half have already closed due to heavy financial losses. Additionally, the livelihoods of 300,000 people in the Kinnow industry and an investment of 300 billion rupees are at risk.
Pakistan is also facing heightened competition in the Kinnow export market. Key markets such as China and Iran have closed, and countries that once imported large quantities of Kinnow from Pakistan are now major exporters themselves. Furthermore, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict is expected to keep Russia, Pakistan’s key market for small-sized Kinnows, closed this year.
Ahmed noted that high freight charges and increased shipping times to the UK, Canada, and European countries are creating logistical challenges for Kinnow exports, compounded by adverse weather conditions. To sustain exports, urgent action is needed at the government level. Key measures include focusing on research and development and introducing four new Kinnow varieties, which could extend the export season from three months to 6-8 months.
