Food Irradiation facilities are mandatory to boost horticulture exports in Pakistan.

Pakistan horticulture sector possesses a great potential for development. However, the growth of the sector is inhibited by multitude of constraints. Production yields are very low compared to international benchmarks. The product is perishable by nature and therefore requires proper handling after harvesting to keep it in good condition till it reaches the consumer and export destinations. In the existing scenario, a high percentage of horticulture produce is wasted due to ineffective post-harvest practices. As per the estimates, about 25-30% of total production of fruits and vegetables is wasted due to lack of proper post-harvest techniques. This wastage can be reduced by adopting measures that can improve the shelf life of the products after harvesting.
Major share of horticulture produce is consumed locally. Along with this, fruits and vegetables are also exported to other countries of the world. Major fruit exports include citrus, mangoes and dates. While vegetable exports include potatoes and onions. For the past many years, the horticulture exports have been fluctuating around a modest figure of around USD 140 million. However, the export potential of the sector is much higher. Interventions are being made at different stages of value chain to tap the full potential of this sector.
During the last decade awareness about hygiene and sanitary issues has increased manifold in the world that has led many countries to impose restrictions on imported fruits and vegetables. The horticulture export products must comply with certain minimum sanitary requirements in order to get entry into a particular country. Another similar restriction relates to plant protection. Countries do not allow imports of such fruits and vegetables that carry any flies or insects with them, in order to protect their own plants from getting infected from the same disease.
Similarly after WTO agreement on SPS (Sanitary and phytosanitory standards), whole world have raised concerns about the safety of food and trade of safe food.
To meet international quarantine requirements food irradiation has gained significant popularity all over the world in the last few years.

Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to high levels of ionizing radiation. Food irradiation is internationally endorsed by World Health Organization, Food and agricultural Organization, American Dietetic Association, International Atomic Energy Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Codex Alimentarious Commission and others.
The practice has been in existence since 1950s, but has been widely used in the recent years.
Irradiation has three main purposes; to eradicate pests such as fruit flies on harvested crops, extend the shelf life of food and kill disease causing micro-organisms.
Food irradiation facilities are being established rapidly in different countries and bilateral agreements are being carried out internationally for the mutual trade of different safe food items among countries. The radiation processing industry continues to grow steadily at 5 to 10% annually.

In food industry USA is leading the world market in food irradiation facilities with numerous facilities all over the country including all technologies i.e. x-rays, Electron Beam and Gamma rays.USDA(United States Department of Agriculture) is also undergoing agreements with different countries for the exchange of irradiated food products. In south and Central America, Mexico, Brazil and in Europe, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Newzealand and in Africa, South Africa are famous for their Food irradiation facilities. In Asia, China is top of the list with around 100 facilities and 50% of them are processing food and horticulture products.Phillipines, Thailand, Iran and Malaysia are also in the marathon of establishing food irradiation facilities and more importantly Thailand is the first country in the whole Asia who has signed an agreement with USDA. Agreement was signed in February 2006.As a result of this agreement, APHIS allowed import of six irradiated fruits from Thailand that include Mango,Mangosteen,Pineapple,Rambutan,Litchi and longan and in exchange Thailand will allow import of US irradiated agriculture commodities, such as Citrus.

Similarly in Iran, two Food irradiation facilities at Tehran and Yazd are exclusively processing horticulture products. India has also established 7 irradiation facilities and 4 of them exclusively processing food products. India is processing Onions, potatoes, shallots, rice, figs, spices and dates in the agricultural commodities. India is also exporting irradiated mangoes to the US market this season. In March 2006, President Bush went to India and reached an agreement with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to use irradiation as a post harvest treatment for fruits and vegetables for trade. Bush also said at the event that United States is looking forward to eating Indian Mangoes.
In Asia Philippines, Thailand and India may prove strong competitor of export of Mangoes to USA market for Pakistan in the Coming Future but it all depends on the existence of food irradiation facilities in Pakistan.
An International Irradiation Association (IIA) is also working globally with some 42 member companies around the world.
The association is aimed at encouraging and facilitating network among the members in the resolution of matters that challenge and otherwise effect irradiation industry.

International Irradiation Association also collaborates with the regional groups, such as the PGEI (Panel on Gamma & Electron Irradiation), FIPA (Food Irradiation Processing Alliance), GIPA (Gamma Industry Processing Alliance) and ISSPA (International Source Supplier and Producer Association) and other Allied associations.
To summarize a remarkable development is being made regionally and internationally to grow and organize the irradiation industry.
 
In Pakistan government has also approved different food items including most of horticulture products for irradiation through its SRO 166(1)96 and first food irradiation facility with the name of PARAS FOODS (Pvt) Ltd is about to get operational at Lahore.

The facility is established in joint venture with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board.

In Pakistan horticulture sector has great potential for exports and the existence of such food irradiation facilities is the right step in the same direction. Pakistan is also one of the largest producers of Mangoes and it is believed that such food irradiation facility will also help reaching our Mangoes and other horticulture items to far of destinations of the world. It is believed to increase the contribution of agriculture exports in the development of national economy.