20000322

'50 pc vegetables

are wasted due to

careless handling'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is self-sufficient in major vegetables but 35 percent to 50 percent of them go waste due to improper post-harvest handling.

Lack of storage facilities, absence of processing equipment, improper transportation, cleaning and grading destroy the vegetables, said Dr M H Bhatti, National Coordinator, Vegetables Crop Research Programme of National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC).

He said Pakistan has great potential to double the yield of 32 vegetables generally grown by employing latest technology. 'The country can capture markets of Middle East easily if proper processing and grading are done,' he added.

Bhatti, who has successfully grown 'Putamo' tomato plant by using potato as roots Ñ in the NARC, cited the example of Indonesia which has generated great national revenue through production of tomato and its processing.

He said by setting up agro-based cottage industry the country can boost growth of vegetables on larger scale.

The Coordinator advised the farmers not to use fertilizers and pesticides at least 12 days before harvesting the crop, otherwise vegetables carrying toxics will find way to markets, causing different diseases to its users.ÑAPP