US offers to help boost Pakistan’s strawberry produce

MULTAN: Maximum foreign exchange can be garnered through the export of strawberries by improving its cultivation, harvest, packaging material, and supply chain, a US expert said on Monday.

“The US is ready to join hands with Pakistan for increasing the production of strawberry as California alone produces two billion sapling of strawberry every year,” Dr Stenofinimor from University of California (UC) Davis told a seminar titled "Strawberry Industry in Pakistan" held at Mango Research Institute.

Dr Stenofinimor informed the moot that a high level nursery of strawberries was grown up to 10 months, while a low level one takes half as much time. “The cultivation of strawberries in Pakistan started in 1980 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The yield of the fruit has doubled during the last five years, which shows the potential of this commoditity” said he. 

Former federal minister, Makhdoom Ahmad Anwar Alam, in his address, appreciated the steps taken by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA) for the promotion of agriculture.

“The seminar would be much beneficial for strawberry growers,” Alam added. Talking to the seminar, MNSUA VC, Dr Asif Ali, said working for the betterment of farmers was the top priority of the varsity.

 “The varsity has launched a project in collaboration of US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (USPCAS-AFS), which would be a great help for strawberry growers. 

Dean faculty of agriculture and principal investigator from Pakistan, Dr Istiaq Rajwana stated that strawberry has many health benefits including blood pressure stabilizing qualities. “The fruit was used as medicine in France during 13th century,” said he.