TDAP Sukkur to revamp exports of banana, dates products

KARACHI: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Sukkur organized a consultative session on the banana and dates products of Khairpur to assess the actual potential and challenges faced by stakeholders on Wednesday and vowed to work together with stakeholder to increase the exports of the two products, said a press release.

The organizers of the event explained to the audience that the objective of such sessions was to connect and unite the stakeholders concerned who might identify structural flaws in their products. The audience of growers, traders, processors, exporters and technical experts highlighted various issues affecting these products at almost all stages.

Man-made issues like lack of good agriculture practices; limited and traditional varieties; unskilled labour; less educated growers; lack of pre and post harvesting techniques; improper tools; non-feasible infrastructure; inadequate transport; shortage of cold storages; lack of mechanization; and the lack of value addition remained the focus of discussion and debate.

“Natural calamities like earlier and longer spells of monsoon rains compel growers to harvest their crop prematurely, which is another addition to the above man-made issues,” the discussion added.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Khairpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sindh Chamber of Agriculture Khairpur; Sindh Abadgar Foundation Khairpur; Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI) Khairpur; and Banana Research Institute Khairpur.

In the session, an expert of SGS Pakistan gave a detailed presentation to the participants on ISO standards and other certificate requirements of different importers.A former director of the DPRI, Khairpur suggested a SWOT analysis of these problems to convert the existing weaknesses and threats into strengths and opportunities.

He argued further that unity, sincerity and a will to work can resolve these issues and suggested the stakeholders concerned “to form a delegation of growers and approach the federal and provincial governments, requesting them to support them with the supply of elite varieties of imported date palm seedlings.

“The TDAP and trade missions abroad can also arrange online training sessions/e-learnings. The challenge of processing date products as dry dates can also be mitigated by value addition through the manufacturing of date powder, paste and syrup,” he added.

The panellists also highlighted the potential of banana and its by-products. Bananas are exported to Iran, Afghanistan and the UAE. Their by-products like banana chips and powder possess huge potential, which is yet to be tapped into for exports. Banana skin is also used by various cosmetic industries in the manufacturing of cosmetic products.

The participants thanked the TDAP for organizing such an informative consultative session at the local level. They committed to make the Khairpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry a joint platform of growers, traders, processors and exporters.