LARKANA: A two-day guava festival will be held on 19-20 January 2017 at a local hotel in Larkana.
This was disclosed by Larkana Division Commissioner Muhammad Abbas Baloch while presiding over a meeting with guava orchid owners, growers, traders and district administration in his office. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Kashif Tipu, Additional Deputy Commissioner Yasir Ali Bhatti, President of Larkana Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Khair Muhammad Shaikh, mayor Aslam Shaikh and others.
A seminar will also be held on the occasion to highlight the importance of guava which can earn foreign exchange through itss export. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah will be requested to inaugurate the festival which will be participated by the Chairman, Trade Development Authority of Sindh, Inamullah Dharejo among other top officials.
The meeting decided that cold storage will be established for guava crop. LCCI, Agricultural Department and Larkana administration will cooperate and coordinate in holding the festival which will attract many buyers. Syed Siraj Rashdi, President, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, told the participants that as many as 13 varieties of guava are produced in Larkana and recently one sample has been introduced from Indonesia but the local produce is far better than others which are not only very sweet but very tasty as well..
Rashdi told this scribe that foreign exchange could be earned if we are allowed export of guava produced in Larkana district for which he demanded allowing of air cargo service either from Mohenjo Daro or Sukkur airport. He said that guava orchids are spread over 8,980 hectares in Larkana and seasonal production is beyond 83,000 metric tons.
Rashdi said dry port established during Benazir Bhutto regime in Larkana should also be restored without loss of further time. and pulp factory should also be established without which exhibitions will be fruitless. He further said that Export Promotion Bureau was also shifted to Sukkur which must also be returned to Larkana or at least it’s office must be opened here to facilitate rice & guava exporters which will also increase employment opportunities for the unemployed.