Jalandhar potato growers plan export to Pak

While hailing the Pakistan government's decision to allow duty-free imports of vegetables from India, the Jalandhar Potato Growers Association has geared up to export potato seeds and potato to the neighbouring country.

"The Jalandhar Potato Growers Association has already signed an agreement with Markfed, Punjab, to export potato and potato seeds to the European countries and with Pakistan's decision to allow duty-free import of potatoes, we are ready to export to Pakistan also. Markfed has already initiated the process with the deal," Jaswinder Singh Sangha, secretary of the association said here today.

Pakistan's decision to allow duty-free imports of certain items has come as an "accomplishment of our dreams".

Meanwhile, Pakistan has decided to meet the domestic demand, as well as control the hike in prices of commodities including beef, mutton, tomato, onion, garlic and potatoes, due to rise in demand.

Sangha also revealed the Doaba region of Punjab had a special soil called "effort fee land" for yielding potato seeds, which is famous throughout the country.

"Currently we are sending potato seeds to West Bengal and southern states. Transport expenses for export to Pakistan, however, would be much cheaper, if the Wagha border is opened up for export, Sangha said, urging the Pakistan authorities to open the Wagha border for the export of potatoes.

"Sending Potato to Pakistan will be beneficial for both India and Pakistan, as the rate of potato, which is Rs 23 per kg in Pakistan, is about only Rs 5 per kg in India. Hence, even after including all expenses involved in export transaction, the rate of potato in Pakistan will be maximum Rs 10 per kg" he added.

"As far as the potato seed is concerned, currently Pakistan was importing it from Holland at the rate of Rs 5,000 per quintal, and with the opening of the Wagha border for export, we would be able to export it at the rate of Rs 1,500 per quintal only," Sangha added.

"Not only potato, Jalandhar farmers could also fulfil Pakistan's requirement of onion also as we have already conducted a successful experiment of yielding good quality of onion," he claimed.

"If the trade route to Pakistan is opened, we could fulfil the requirement for vegetables from other countries," Sangha added.

Sangha urged the Punjab government to arrange a visit of farmers' delegation to Pakistan to explore the feasibility of exporting some more items of vegetables.

With the opening of Indo-pak trade in some specific commodities, hope for opening of trade of other items between India and Pakistan has accelerated and the it would be Punjab to be benefited the most by friendly Indo-Pak trade relations.