Pakistan’s Rice Exports Face Challenges Due to Safety Concerns
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s agricultural and food sector is facing significant challenges, especially in its narrow export base dominated by a limited range of commodities. Rice is the primary export, generating over USD 3.5 billion in foreign exchange in the fiscal year 2024. However, the rice export industry is increasingly threatened by shipment rejections from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States due to serious food safety concerns.
Food Safety Concerns
In 2023, the European Union issued numerous alerts due to the discovery of pesticide residues in rice shipments, particularly basmati, from Pakistan and India. These shipments failed to meet the EU’s maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides. While India had a higher non-compliance rate in previous years, Pakistan’s rice shipments triggered more alerts in 2024. Additionally, Pakistan has consistently recorded higher cases of mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, over the past three years. Aflatoxins are toxic substances that develop in rice when infected by fungus or mold.
Challenges in the Rice Value Chain
The rice value chain in Pakistan involves farmers, stockists, millers, and exporters. Farmers frequently use agrochemicals like chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, and imidacloprid, which are intended for other crops like cotton and sugarcane, to combat pests. These chemicals are not approved for use in rice crops, leading to heightened levels of pesticide residues. Improper application practices by farmers, such as using higher than recommended concentrations or applying pesticides too close to harvest time, contribute to elevated residue levels. The lack of education among many farmers exacerbates the problem.
Mycotoxin Issues
The issue of mycotoxins is compounded by inadequate post-harvest practices. Many farmers resort to premature harvesting due to erratic rainfall patterns and the need to shorten crop cycles. This premature harvesting, often done at moisture levels of 20-30 per cent, coupled with suboptimal drying methods, promotes fungal growth and aflatoxin contamination. Even among millers, the use of outdated sun drying methods persists, highlighting a broader systemic issue of inadequate infrastructure and technology adoption within Pakistan’s rice milling industry.
Government and Industry Efforts
Pakistan’s government faces significant hurdles, including resistance from influential pesticide companies against implementing bans on harmful chemicals. Unlike Indian Punjab, which announced a ban on ten agrochemicals to reduce pesticide residues in basmati rice, Pakistan’s regulatory framework remains inadequate. Efforts by organisations like the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to raise awareness among farmers and stakeholders are commendable but insufficient. More extensive educational campaigns and financial incentives are urgently needed, requiring robust governmental support and effective policy implementation.
