Pakistan growers have joined forces with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve the quality of the country's fruit and vegetables, website Dailytimes.com.pk reported.

USAID will work with the All Pakistan Fruit &Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) to train growers, invest in research and introduce new cultivars.

PFVA chair Waheed Ahmed said USAID had agreed to offer technical support to enhance the country's exports and enable growers to gain maximum benefits.

He said the new partnership should minimise issues faced by fruit and vegetable exporters due to lack of required facilities to meet international standards.

Ahmed said that kinnow mandarins had become one of the country's biggest exports with Russia and the Ukraine emerging as the largest destination markets.

He said kinnows accounted for a high proportion of the 300,000 metric tons (MT) of annual citrus exports, overshadowing mango exports which stood at 130,000MT.

PFVA representatives are concerned about non-compliance with international quality standards and are keen for dedicated research organizations to develop the varieties best needed for a global market.

Ahmed stressed the need for a common facility centre to ensure agricultural research developments reached the farmer.

He is also keen to see research investment in improving the quality and standard of the country's mangoes.

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