Pakistan adopts Arab inventions in quest to broaden worldwide market for date production
The 2nd Pakistan International Date Palm Festival, held in Karachi from Tuesday to Thursday, has attracted a host of international participants and exporters, all eager to tap into the growing Pakistani date market. Organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the United Arab Emirates' Khalifa International Award for Date Palm & Agricultural Innovation, the event features stalls from several countries, including the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan.
Among the attendees is Amjad M. Tadros of Jordan's Nadine Dates, who seeks to capitalise on the growing demand in Pakistan for his company's unique 'Madjoul' dates. Tadros aims to offer knowledge about different kinds of dates, why Madjoul dates are better, and how to best market them to Pakistani buyers.
Pakistan is ranked as the world's fifth-largest date producer, yielding around 535,000 tons annually. However, many Pakistani farmers face logistical and technological barriers. Ameer Sultan Zehri, a grower from Kharan in Pakistan's Balochistan, stated that the purpose of attending the festival is to improve business and engage in import and export.
The Egyptian firm Valorizen Research and Innovation Center is one such international entity offering solutions. Said Awad, an official at the centre, explained that their technology provides a solution for converting date palm waste into added-value products, such as thermal insulation and eco-friendly products.
Engineer Mohamed Hasan Al-Shamsi Al-Awadhi, a board member of the UAE's Date Palm Friends Society, emphasized the importance of proper packaging and quality control for export. Nur Al-Muhammad Berdibekov, manager of the UAE-based Best Bags Packing and Packaging Materials Trading LLC, stated that the new mesh bag technology displayed by his company is new for the Pakistani dates industry. These bags protect dates from environmental damage and bird attacks, helping farmers save dates, reduce waste, and increase profit.
Ghulam Qasim Jiskani, a grower from Khairpur in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, shares similar concerns about meeting international quality standards for export. The festival aims to help local growers meet these stringent requirements.
International firms at the festival introduced new solutions aimed at boosting farmer profitability and reducing waste in the Pakistani dates industry. These include advanced farming techniques, innovative packaging solutions, and value-added product ideas to help increase farmers' yields and enhance the value chain in date palm cultivation. If commercialised, the technology from Valorizen Research and Innovation Center can provide environmental and economic benefits in Pakistan. European markets particularly demand strict specifications for imported dates, and these solutions aim to meet those demands.
In conclusion, the 2nd Pakistan International Date Palm Festival is a significant event for the Pakistani dates industry, offering opportunities for growth, innovation, and improved export capabilities. By addressing logistical and technological barriers, the festival is paving the way for Pakistani farmers to tap into the global market and compete on a global scale.
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