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Pakistan Exports First ever Container of Processed Apples
from Quetta Apple Grading Plant
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The Quetta
Apple Grading Plant, a project set up by the Pakistan
Horticulture Development and Export Board of the Ministry
of Commerce, Government of Pakistan in collaboration
with the Agriculture Department, Government of Balochistan,
started its operations on Monday, 11 August, 2008.
The early variety named `Katja` which is grown in
the areas of `Kalat, Mangocher, Mastung, Quetta and
Pishin` was graded, washed, waxed and packed. The
variety is charectarized by the red blush colour with
crunch bite, juiciness, soothing aroma and sweet-sour
taste.
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It
is first project in Balochistan set up with a mandate
to process the apples as per international requirements
and thus promote apple export industry. The apples are
exported world wide by different countries after collection
from the field and transporting to the pack-houses where
they are washed, waxed, graded by weight, pre-cooled
and shipped to intended destinations. The non-existence
of such a pack-house had been almost barrier to apple
exports from Balochistan. The said plant is capable
of meeting processing requirements of the international
market. |
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The PHDEB started
the plant operations on Sunday August 10, 2008. After
its operations, the apple grading plant was visited
by the senior Government officers including the Director
Generals Extension & Research and other professional
staff. A large number of growers, traders especially
local exporters and media people also witnessed the
plant operations. The manager technical Pakistan Horticulture
Development and Export Board, Dr. Babar Ehsan Bajwa,
briefed the visitors about technical aspects of the
plant operations.
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The visitors
appreciated the improvement in the cosmetic look and
presentation quality of apples after the processing.
The apples after processing improved in the appearance,
shine and quality. The visitors were briefed about
the packing techniques and uniformity of apples after
the grading, hence each pack would have similar size
and weight of apples. The delegates highly appreciated
the project performance and committed to process their
product for better income earnings through the exports.
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The consignment
was owned by M/s F.A. International; a renowned Karachi
based export and weighed about 23 metric tons. The
apples would be displayed and offered for sale at
SARC countries exposition being held during the last
week of August 2008 at Colombo Sri Lanka. Mr. Hayat
Shah a local grower has supplied apples. The efforts
undertaken in this regard are first of its kind in
Balochistan. The demand has been identified by the
exporters for other apples varieties from Balochistan
including the famous `Kullu` variety. The local growers
are committed to processing their apples from the
apple processing plant to fulfill the demands of the
exporters, who have a target to export 200 tons of
apples from Balochistan to different countries.
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The
Board in close collaboration with the Agriculture Department
Balochistan plans to create the linkages between the
apple grading plant and the growers who have shown commitment
to process their apples. On, similar grounds the F.
A. International and few other local exporters have
plans to send 15 to 20 containers of apples from the
apple grading plant in the current apple season. This
would entail the export of 200 tons of apples from the
Quetta direct into the international markets. |
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The apples
produced in Balochistan, especially the `Kullu` varieties
have tremendous potential due to good colour, size,
quality, keeping quality, juice contents, crunchiness
and aroma.The apples considerably add to their appearance
and cosmetic look after washing and waxing in addition
to improving shelf life. These efforts are likely to
improve the exports of apples from Balochistan, hence
improving the income for growers, creating local employment,
confidence building of local traders to export their
product into the international markets. |
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