(Arsalan Hassan) About 18,000 quintals of figs are produced annually on the mainland of Pakistan while there is a demand of about 28,000 quintals of figs, so we have to import about 10,000 quintals of dried figs annually from Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.
This is the main reason reason that figs are so expensive in Pakistan and that’s why a common man can’t even think of eating them.
About 435 plants can be planted in an acre, because they are planted in a row at a distance of 10 feet. It is to be mentioned here that a fig tree gives full yield for 15 to 20 years after his growth.
Fig plants are available at around Rs. 50 and planting the whole acre can cost around Rs 22,000. One plant yields at least 6 kilo grams and in this way, about 2600 kg or 65 quintals of fresh figs can be obtained from one acre. Similarly 1430 kg of pure dried figs can be obtained from one acre.
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Now if we talk about the selling business then the rate of fig is Rs 800 to Rs 1200 per kg in the whole sale market, but according to a recent market survey, the wholesale price is Rs 500 per kg.
The farmer can earn about Rs. 570000 per acre from dry figs if the rate is minimum of Rs. 400 per kg, if the figs are sold fresh without drying, then the earning rate will be at least Rs 260000 at the rate 100 rupees per kg.
This means that in terms of business, figs are in no way behind other crops or orchards. It can be planted almost everywhere in Pakistan and the country will not import them from foreign and everyone in the country will afford it.
Just think about this at least for once from business point of view.
The column “The business of Figs in Pakistan” is written by Arsalan Hassan, who is studying Economics from University of Peshawar.
