In the agricultural industry, proper packaging is essential, especially in nations like Pakistan where agriculture makes up a sizeable portion of the national income. It aids in maintaining the freshness of agricultural products including grains, fruits, and vegetables. Effective packing techniques may increase the shelf life of perishable goods like fruits and vegetables in Pakistan, which lowers waste and guarantees better quality for customers. Additionally, it will shield agricultural goods from physical harm while being handled and transported, particularly in Pakistan where not all areas have a well established transportation system. This is particularly pertinent to a region such as Balochistan. An appealing package may make a big difference in a market as competitive as Pakistan, where many producers are fighting for the attention of consumers.
Currently small and medium enterprises, farmers, and microentrepreneurs are using cloth or jute bags for packaging their produce to transport it from farm to wholesale markets, and in some cases, to big buyers in Punjab and Sindh. The packaging not only is susceptible to damage but cannot protect the produce from heat, or external factors such as sun exposure. This decreases the quality and shelf life of products like tomatoes, Bananas, grapes, and fresh dates.
Cartons are an echo friendly, and more durable option for storing and transporting fresh produce. However, majority of the traders purchase them from factories or wholesalers in Punjab or Sindh, but this is not cost efficient.
The selling of grapes and things linked to grapes is Khair Mohammad’s main source of income. He manages a grape farm. The difficulties he had on his grape vineyard, particularly with obtaining packaging materials from Karachi, had an impact on the output of his company. Since he needed 70,000 cartons and the market price was PKR 180 per carton, he would need to spend PKR 12,600,000. His profit margins were being severely damaged by this expense.
Muhammad received a PKR 30 million matching grant from the Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP) project, which is run by the International Trade Centre and funded by the European Union. He used the grant to start a carton-specializing packaging material factory.
Through the provision and sale of packaging material, Khair Mohammad’s creative move serves not only his own business requirements but also the needs of other farmers in Balochistan, therefore promoting the region’s overall economic growth.
The carton plant now meets his need of 70,000 units per month by producing 1,310,400 cartons per month at a rate of 4,200 cartons per hour. He profits from the abundance, but so do the farmers in the area. He saves PKR 80 every carton by manufacturing them himself, for a savings of almost PKR 5,600,000.His endeavour to build a plant producing packaging materials not only reduces expenses and boosts output, but it also creates jobs and supports environmental sustainability.
Local businesspeople like Khair Mohammad are bringing about good change and advancing the agriculture industry in Pakistan towards more resilience, efficiency, and prosperity with projects like these. As we commemorate tales of inventiveness and enterprise, let us persist in endorsing and magnifying endeavours that open doors to equitable and sustainable advancement within Pakistan’s agricultural terrain.
