Demand for Indian vegetables, particularly of tomatoes and potatoes, have surged in Pakistan suffering from devastating floods, leading to higher exports of such items to the neighbouring country.
Demand for Indian vegetables, particularly of tomatoes and potatoes, have surged in Pakistan suffering from devastating floods, leading to higher exports of such items to the neighbouring country.
"Over 30 trucks (carrying 16 tonnes each) of tomatoes and potatoes are going to Pakistan through Wagah border everyday," vice president of Amritsar Exporters Chambers of Commerce Rajdeep Uppal said.
He said 29 trucks of tomatoes and five laden with potatoes crossed the border today itself.
Rampant floods in Pakistan and the holy festival of Ramzan have increased the demand for Indian vegetables there in the past one month, said Uppal who himself heads an export company in Amritsar.
Meanwhile, 10-12 trucks of tomatoes are going to Pakistan daily from Delhi, president of Vegetables Traders Association of Azadpur market (largest market of fruits and vegetables in Asia) Surendra Kohli said .
A Delhi-based vegetables exporter Raju Karnal said he had sent over 100 trucks of tomatoes to Pakistan through the Wagah border over the past fortnight.
He said the volume of exports of Indian vegetables to Pakistan has soared recently, despite high duties imposed by that country.
Uppal said that two years ago the Pakistani government imposed 48% duty on potato, 28 per cent on onion and six per cent on tomato which virtually halted the vegetable trade between the two countries. Prior to that, there were no duties on these items in Pakistan, he added.
But, damage to tomatoes and potatoes due to floods in Sind and Punjab areas (where they are produced mostly in that country) and increase in demand due to Ramzan resurrected the trade, Uppal said.
Despite high duties, prices of Indian potato and tomato have increased in Pakistan, encouraging traders to rush the produce there, Uppal said, adding that the trend would continue for another 2-3 months.
He said 20kg of Indian tomato sells for around 700-800 Pakistani rupees (about Rs300-400), up from 300-400 Pakistani rupees earlier.
Over 1,100 trucks carrying potatoes, tomatoes and soyabeans have crossed into Pakistan via Attari-Wagah route.
Exporters have demanded that the Pakistan government remove the duties on vegetables to boost bilateral trade in vegetables.
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