Pakistan's potential in dates export
Date palm is well known for its nutritional and therapeutic
qualities. It has very high fruit contents of carbohydrates (about 65-75
per cent). On the basis of nutritive value, it may yield three times
more food per unit area than wheat.
One kilogramme of date can supply human body with 2500-3000 calories
of energy. In addition, the fruit is easily digestible, promotes more
blood formation and also possesses protein, fat, salts, carbohydrates
and vitamins in an easily assimilative form.
The fruit is a good source of vitamin A, B and C and has high mineral
contents. According to a bulletin on food composition issued by the US
Department of Agriculture, dried Dates contains 1.9 per cent protein,
70.6 per cent carbohydrates, 2.5 per cent fat, 13 per cent water, 1.2
per cent minerals and 10 per cent fibre.
A date farm in Pakistan |
Pakistan is the fifth largest producer of dates in the world, with an
area of about 82,000 hectares and a yield of 427,000 tons. Baluchistan
is the major date-producing province providing 225,000 tones of dates
from an area of 46,000 hectares and contributing 53 per cent to the
total national output.
At present, 54 Dates processing units are working in the country. The
most important processors are Pak-Iran International (Pvt) Ltd and
Panama Impex Agency in Karachi; Panjgur Date Industries and Pullain
Blaoch Zamindar Zara in Panjgur; Prime Dates Products (Pvt) Ltd, Sham
Traders, Sharm Fruit Co. and Syed International in Sakkur. Other
processing units located in Lahore, Turbat, Quetta and D. I. Khan.
Date varieties grown in Pakistan
Province Varieties
Punjab Halavi, Khudrawi, Zahidi, Shamran
Sindh Aseel, Fasli, Bhedir, Karbalian, Kupro, Mithri
NWFP Dhakki Mozawati, Kango, Gookna, Gulistan, Basri,Helini and
Zahidi
Baluchistan Begum Jangi, Kaharaba, Mozawati, Berni, Helini, Sabzo
The export of dates almost exclusively takes place from Khairpur in
Sindh (Assil date) where processing facilities exist. In addition, three
dates processing plants, one each in Khairpur, D. I. Khan and Turbat
along with cold storage facilities are also being developed under the
Trade Policy 2003/04 Initiatives.
Pakistan exports fresh dates to Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany,
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA, UK, and dried
dates to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India and
Japan. Dates have sufficient shelf-life and are thus shipped by sea.
Annual export of fresh dates is 12,000 tones and that of dried dates is
about 255,000 tones.
Being the most nutritious and medicinal fruit, date palm is the most
potential horticultural commodity. Relentless efforts are required to
harvest nature blessed fruit by applying post-harvest management and
processing techniques and ultimate qualifying the international
standards.
A number of countries have formulated and applied date standards at
the national level (e.g. USA, Canada, Israel, Algeria, Tunisia and Oman)
both for locally produced and imported dates.
Special programmes are initiated for research studies based on larger
sample size; adoption of better crop husbandry and improved production
technology; provision of financial facilities at the door step; use of
up-to-date infrastructure, committed and strong organisational set-up;
development of defined methods of operation and pre-and post-harvest
care.
Full care is taken to match with international requirements of
sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures; selection of disease-free
plants screening out of bad varieties pre-and post-harvest management;
processing and behavioral trainings of the employees/staff for their
role in the system; integrated supply chain (from farm to fork) for
handling, processing, packing, marketing and export of dates and date
products.
Other measures include setting up of advanced date processing and
preservation units, improved/standardised packaging and presentation,
national branding and promotion and market diversification (access to
new markets) and establishment of modern marketing system.
Courtesy: Dawn, Pakistan
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