initiatives have been taken to encourage farmers to utilise proper techniques of picking and packing and stressed the need for developing proper storage for kinno preservation. - File photo

ISLAMABAD: Russia and Ukraine have emerged as biggest markets for Pakistani kinno as exports to these countries have reached to 30 per cent of total exports of the fruit from the country.

During the last five years, the kinno exports to Russia and Ukraine have increased from almost zero to an over 100,000 tons, almost 30 per cent of the total exports of the fruit, Chief Executive Officer, Harvest Tradings Ahmad Jawad said in a statement received here Wednesday.

“Both these states need smaller kinno for its strong taste and high sucrose content,” he said adding their share is increasing every year as according to a recent study between January and April 2011, the citrus import volume in Russia noted a 29pc increase compared to the same period in 2010.

Jawad was of the view that lack of adequate facilities and proper training of picking and packing, the crop production becomes victim of the post harvest losses every year. He said that initiatives have been taken to encourage farmers to utilise proper techniques of picking and packing and stressed the need for developing proper storage for kinno preservation. —APP