Pakistan potato exports to Lanka halted

PAKISTAN: The export of Pakistani potato to Sri Lanka has come to a halt for the last one month due to enhanced tariff by the Government of Sri Lanka.

Earlier the ratio of tariff was Rs 5 per kilogramme on imported potato, which was enhanced some three weeks ago to the level of Rs 15 per kilogramme with the aim to support and protect interests of local farmers of Sri Lanka and boost their agricultural output.

Talking to Daily Times, Mohammad Waqar, one of the leading exporters of the potato and convener of Wholesale Vegetable Welfare Association Sabzi Mandi said one month ago Pakistan was exporting 150 to 200 containers per week to Sri Lanka and is regarded as a major importer of the Pakistani commodity.

Owing to bumper potato crop in the country during the previous year 2006-07, exports of the commodity has jumped considerably fetching considerable invaluable foreign exchange to the national exchequer.

Other export destinations of Pakistani potato include Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore and Iran.

But owing to stiff competition from China and India, which have emerged recently as leading exporters of potato, currently the exports were limited to Sri Lanka and Malaysia only.

Daily Times Pakistan