International agencies to help increase chilli yield: Bosan

KARACHI: World Bank and USAID have assured of assistance in prevention from infection to improve the yield of chillies in Pakistan, Sikandar Hayat Bosan, Federal Minister for Food Security and Research, said on Tuesday.

He was addressing an awareness seminar on the potential of chilli exports among growers and exporters. It was organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Sindh Agricultural Growth Project (SAGP).

Bosan said that Pakistan was the fifth largest chilli producing country in the world. He said Pakistan would be able to produce about 0.2 million tons chillies this year.

“The country has a capacity to export 90,000 tons, which can fetch $47 million per annum, but exports from Pakistan to some markets are banned due to Aflatoxin - a class of toxic compounds that are produced by certain moulds found in food, and can cause liver damage and cancer,” he added. Bosan said the exports of chilli to EU dropped by 35 percent. He suggested the federal and provincial governments, along with the stakeholders, to take measures in this regard.

Around 150 growers from Kunri and other chilli-growing areas of Sindh, as well as exporters of red chillies attended the seminar.

The speakers emphasised on adopting modern techniques to grow chillies that would increase the quality as well as help increase exports from Pakistan.

In 2014-15, Pakistan exported chillies worth $4.7 million (powder/whole) to the world. Top chilli importing countries are US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, and some countries from the Middle East.