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Speacial Reports/ WTO |
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WTO and Pakistani citrus exports
By Ch. Muhammad Sharif and Dr Bashir Ahmed
Citrus are the largest produced fruits in
Pakistan. The country produces about 8 per cent of
world production, with only 0.5 per cent share in
the international trade.
 Exports
have increased in recent years. Net returns are
sufficient but some problems like lack of
exploration of new markets, transportation, high
duties and non-availability of quality packing
material hinder export.
The upcoming WTO-related concerns have posed
challenges as well as opportunities to our
agriculture sector. Pakistan needs to meet
challenges and avail opportunities in all
sub-sectors.
Increased production is the key to promoting the
export of horticultural crops. However, lack of
incentives and high-tech guidance from the
extension department hinder the process.
Most plants are locally-manufactured, and are
meant only for processing mandarin. The
suppliers/contractors do not undertake proper
grading before supplying produce to factories.
After grading, a significant quantity is
channelized back into the domestic market adding
costs and delaying processing. Foreign demand is
so small that exporters resort to competition
among themselves and most of them are operating in
neighbouring markets.
 Inputs
like good quality wax and other packing materials
are also not easily available. The government
policies towards the promotion of citrus export
are inconsistent and irregular.
It has been observed that the WTO requirements can
become opportunities, provided necessary
institutional infrastructure is established. If
Pakistani products can earn name, then such
barriers shall not affect exports.
Initially, the preparatory costs of compliance
with the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures
will be high, but once such agencies were
established, the future benefits would be much
higher.
Coordination among the Export Promotion Bureau,
kinnoo exporters, agricultural research and
extension is urgently needed. Certifying agencies
should be established on priority basis before the
coming season to introduce and enhance citrus
exports to the EU, the US, Japan and Australia.
There is a growing recognition that the SPS
agreement can promote agriculture trade. Many
countries have done exercises on estimating the
cost of compliance with these measures.
According to Smeda, there are bright prospects for
Pakistan to export citrus to these countries.
Still, a lot needs to be done for establishing the
necessary institutional infrastructure like
keeping production record, quality testing
laboratories, brand name, packing-material
providing industries, general hygiene of markets
and processing factors, quality certificate
issuing authorities, etc.
Under the WTO, the signatory countries cannot
impose import duties but can raise non-tariff
barriers based on quality and hygiene. Such issues
are widespread in case of fresh horticultural
products.
 One
example is a ban on mango imports from Pakistan
imposed by the US and Japan due to the incidence
of fruit fly. Many Western and Asian countries are
raising such barriers. Pakistan needs to impose
these standards on its exports voluntarily.
It is suggested that the market committees should
be made strictly to observe hygiene. Export
certificate issuing institutions should keep an
eye on hygienic conditions at all stages of
export.
Courtesy:The DAWN |
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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