China might soon be importing cherries from Pakistan, when six years of deliberations will finally come to fruition. A delegation of Chinese quarantine experts and government officials travelled to Pakistan late last month. The delegation from China’s food and quarantine department visited the picturesque Gilgit-Baltistan region – home to cherry orchards in Pakistan, to check the farm-to-market quality of Pakistani cherry. And, according to Pakistani officials, the visitors returned home satisfied.
Currently, China imports bulk of its cherry from South American countries to meet growing demand of the exotic fruit. However, the transportation cost and time is a major predicament.
“China wants to gain market access for cherry from Gilgit-Baltistan – something which it didn’t have access earlier,” said Ministry of Food Security the Directorate of Plant Protection Department Deputy Director Shahid Abdullah.
Gilgit-Baltistan produces 4,000 tons of cherries per season. And since local consumption is limited, farmers export the fruit, Abdullah told The Express Tribune. Cherry is easily perishable fruit – with little shelf life – so Pakistan has been looking for nearby destinations to export cherry to. And China, being a next-door neighbour with an ever-growing appetite for the fruit, is the most viable option.